Examinando por Autor "Minniti D."
Mostrando 1 - 20 de 25
Resultados por página
Opciones de ordenación
Ítem A Perspective on the Milky Way Bulge Bar as Seen from the Neutron-capture Elements Cerium and Neodymium with APOGEE(Institute of Physics, 2024-04-01) Sales-Silva J.V.; Cunha K.; Smith V.V.; Daflon S.; Souto D.; Guerço R.; Queiroz A.; Chiappini C.; Hayes C.R.; Masseron T.; Hasselquist, Sten; Horta D.; Prantzos N.; Zoccali M.; Allende Prieto C.; Barbuy B.; Beaton R.; Bizyaev D.; Fernández-Trincado J.G.; Frinchaboy P.M.; Holtzman J.A.; Johnson J.A.; Jönsson, Henrik; Majewski S.R.; Minniti D.; Nidever D.L.; Schiavon R.P.; Schultheis M.; Sobeck J.; Stringfellow G.S.; Zasowski G.This study probes the chemical abundances of the neutron-capture elements cerium and neodymium in the inner Milky Way from an analysis of a sample of ∼2000 stars in the Galactic bulge bar spatially contained within ∣X Gal∣ < 5 kpc, ∣Y Gal∣ < 3.5 kpc, and ∣Z Gal∣ < 1 kpc, and spanning metallicities between −2.0 ≲ [Fe/H] ≲ +0.5. We classify the sample stars into low- or high-[Mg/Fe] populations and find that, in general, values of [Ce/Fe] and [Nd/Fe] increase as the metallicity decreases for the low- and high-[Mg/Fe] populations. Ce abundances show a more complex variation across the metallicity range of our bulge-bar sample when compared to Nd, with the r-process dominating the production of neutron-capture elements in the high-[Mg/Fe] population ([Ce/Nd] < 0.0). We find a spatial chemical dependence of Ce and Nd abundances for our sample of bulge-bar stars, with low- and high-[Mg/Fe] populations displaying a distinct abundance distribution. In the region close to the center of the MW, the low-[Mg/Fe] population is dominated by stars with low [Ce/Fe], [Ce/Mg], [Nd/Mg], [Nd/Fe], and [Ce/Nd] ratios. The low [Ce/Nd] ratio indicates a significant contribution in this central region from r-process yields for the low-[Mg/Fe] population. The chemical pattern of the most metal-poor stars in our sample suggests an early chemical enrichment of the bulge dominated by yields from core-collapse supernovae and r-process astrophysical sites, such as magnetorotational supernovae.Ítem Aluminium-enriched metal-poor stars buried in the inner Galaxy(EDP Sciences, 2020-11) Fernández-Trincado J.G.; Beers T.C.; Minniti D.; Tang B.; Villanova S.; Geisler D.; Pérez-Villegas A.; Vieira K.Stars with higher levels of aluminium and nitrogen enrichment are often key pieces in the chemical makeup of multiple populations in almost all globular clusters (GCs). There is also compelling observational evidence that some Galactic components could be partially built from dissipated GCs. The identification of such stars among metal-poor field stars may therefore provide insight into the composite nature of the Milky Way (MW) bulge and inner stellar halo, and could also reveal other chemical peculiarities. Here, based on APOGEE spectra, we report the discovery of 29 mildly metal-poor ([Fe/H] -0.7) stars with stellar atmospheres strongly enriched in aluminium (Al-rich stars: [Al/Fe] +0.5), well above the typical Galactic levels, located within the solar radius toward the bulge region, which lies in highly eccentric orbits (e 0.6). We find many similarities for almost all of the chemical species measured in this work with the chemical patterns of GCs, and therefore we propose that they have likely been dynamically ejected into the bulge and inner halo from GCs formed in situ and/or GCs formed in different progenitors of known merger events experienced by the MW, such as the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus and/or Sequoia. © 2020 ESO.Ítem An Automated Tool to Detect Variable Sources in the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea Survey: The VVV Variables (V4) Catalog of Tiles d001 and d002(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2018-09) Medina N.; Borissova J.; Bayo A.; Kurtev R.; Navarro Molina C.; Kuhn M.; Kumar N.; Lucas P.W.; Catelan M.; Minniti D.; Smith L.C.Time-varying phenomena are one of the most substantial sources of astrophysical information, and their study has led to many fundamental discoveries in modern astronomy. We have developed an automated tool to search for and analyze variable sources in the near-infrared K s band using the data from the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) ESO Public Large Survey. This process relies on the characterization of variable sources using different variability indices calculated from time series generated with point-spread function (PSF) photometry of sources under analysis. In particular, we used two main indices, the total amplitude and the eta index η, to identify variable sources. Once the variable objects are identified, periods are determined with generalized Lomb-Scargle periodograms and the information potential metric. Variability classes are assigned according to a compromise between comparisons with VVV templates and the period of the variability. The automated tool is applied on VVV tiles d001 and d002 and led to the discovery of 200 variable sources. We detected 70 irregular variable sources and 130 periodic ones. In addition, nine open-cluster candidates projected in the region are analyzed, and the infrared variable candidates found around these clusters are further scrutinized by cross-matching their locations against emission star candidates from VPHAS+ survey Hα color cuts. © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.Ítem Atypical Mg-poor Milky Way Field Stars with Globular Cluster Second-generation-like Chemical Patterns(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2017-09) Fernández-Trincado J.G.; Zamora O.; Garcia-Hernández D.A.; Souto, Diogo; Dell'Agli F.; Schiavon R.P.; Geisler D.; Tang B.; Villanova S.; Hasselquist, Sten; Mennickent R.E.; Cunha, Katia; Shetrone M.; Prieto, Carlos Allende; Vieira K.; Zasowski G.; Sobeck J.; Hayes C.R.; Majewski S.R.; Placco V.M.; Beers T.C.; Schleicher D.R.G.; Robin A.C.; Mészáros, Sz.; Masseron T.; Pérez, Ana E. Garcia; Anders F.; Meza A.; Alves-Brito A.; Carrera R.; Minniti D.; Lane R.R.; Fernández-Alvar E.; Moreno E.; Pichardo B.; Pérez-Villegas A.; Schultheis M.; Roman-Lopes A.; Fuentes C.E.; Nitschelm C.; Harding P.; Bizyaev D.; Pan K.; Oravetz D.; Simmons A.; Ivans, Inese; Blanco-Cuaresma S.; Hernández J.; Alonso-Garcia J.; Valenzuela O.; Chanamé J.We report the peculiar chemical abundance patterns of 11 atypical Milky Way (MW) field red giant stars observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). These atypical giants exhibit strong Al and N enhancements accompanied by C and Mg depletions, strikingly similar to those observed in the so-called second-generation (SG) stars of globular clusters (GCs). Remarkably, we find low Mg abundances ([Mg/Fe] < 0.0) together with strong Al and N overabundances in the majority (5/7) of the metal-rich ([Fe/H] -1.0) sample stars, which is at odds with actual observations of SG stars in Galactic GCs of similar metallicities. This chemical pattern is unique and unprecedented among MW stars, posing urgent questions about its origin. These atypical stars could be former SG stars of dissolved GCs formed with intrinsically lower abundances of Mg and enriched Al (subsequently self-polluted by massive AGB stars) or the result of exotic binary systems. We speculate that the stars Mg-deficiency as well as the orbital properties suggest that they could have an extragalactic origin. This discovery should guide future dedicated spectroscopic searches of atypical stellar chemical patterns in our Galaxy, a fundamental step forward to understanding the Galactic formation and evolution. © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.Ítem Automated classification of eclipsing binary systems in the VVV Survey(Oxford University Press, 2023-03) Daza-Perilla I.V.; Gramajo L.V.; Lares M.; Palma T.; Lopes, C.E. Ferreira; Minniti D.; Clariá J.J.With the advent of large-scale photometric surveys of the sky, modern science witnesses the dawn of big data astronomy, where automatic handling and discovery are paramount. In this context, classification tasks are among the key capabilities a data reduction pipeline must possess in order to compile reliable data sets, to accomplish data processing with an efficiency level impossible to achieve by means of detailed processing and human intervention. The VISTA Variables of the Vía Láctea Survey, in the southern part of the Galactic disc, comprises multiepoch photometric data necessary for the potential discovery of variable objects, including eclipsing binary systems (EBs). In this study, we use a recently published catalogue of one hundred EBs, classified by fine-tuning theoretical models according to contact, detached, or semidetached classes belonging to the tile d040 of the VVV. We describe the method implemented to obtain a supervised machine-learning model, capable of classifying EBs using information extracted from the light curves of variable object candidates in the phase space from tile d078. We also discuss the efficiency of the models, the relative importance of the features and the future prospects to construct an extensive data base of EBs in the VVV survey. © 2023 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.Ítem Discovery of a Large Population of Nitrogen-enhanced Stars in the Magellanic Clouds(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2020-11) Fernández-Trincado J.G.; Beers T.C.; Minniti D.; Carigi L.; Barbuy B.; Placco V.M.; Bidin C.M.; Villanova S.; Roman-Lopes A.; Nitschelm C.We report the APOGEE-2S+ discovery of a unique collection of nitrogen-enhanced mildly metal-poor giant stars, peaking at [Fe/H] ∼ −0.89 with no carbon enrichment, toward the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC), with abundances of light- (C, N), odd-Z (Al, K), and α-elements (O, Mg, Si) that are typically found in Galactic globular clusters (GCs). Here we present 44 stars in the SMC and LMC that exhibit significantly enhanced [N/Fe] abundance ratios, well above ([N/Fe] > +0.6) typical Galactic levels at similar metallicity, and a star that is very nitrogen-enhanced ([N/Fe] > +2.45). Our sample consists of luminous evolved stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), eight of which are classified as bona fide semi-regular (SR) variables, as well as low-luminosity stars similar to those of stars on the tip of the red giant branch of stellar clusters in the SMC and LMC. It seems likely that whatever nucleosynthetic process is responsible for these anomalous SMC and LMC stars it is similar to that which caused the common stellar populations in GCs. We interpret these distinctive C–N patterns as observational evidence of the result of tidally shredded GCs in the SMC and LMC. These findings might explain some previous conflicting results over bulge N-rich stars, and broadly help to understand GC formation and evolution. Furthermore, the discovery of such a large population of N-rich AGB stars in the SMC and LMC suggests that multiple stellar populations might not only be exotic events from the past, but can also form at lower redshift. © 2020. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Ítem Discovery of a mid-infrared protostellar outburst of exceptional amplitude(Oxford University Press, 2020-12) Lucas P.W.; Elias J.; Points S.; Guo Z.; Smith L.C.; Stecklum B.; Vorobyov E.; Morris C.; Borissova J.; Kurtev R.; Contreras Peña C.; Medina N.; Minniti D.; Ivanov V.D.; Saito R.K.We report the discovery of a mid-infrared outburst in a young stellar object (YSO) with an amplitude close to 8 mag at λ ≈ 4.6 μm. WISEA J142238.82-611553.7 is one of 23 highly variable Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) sources discovered in a search of infrared dark clouds (IRDCs). It lies within the small IRDC G313.671-0.309 (d ≈ 2.6 kpc), seen by the Herschel/Hi-Gal survey as a compact massive cloud core that may have been measurably warmed by the event. Pre-outburst data from Spitzer in 2004 suggest it is a class I YSO, a view supported by observation of weak 2.12 μm H2 emission in an otherwise featureless red continuum spectrum in 2019 (6 mag below the peak in Ks). Spitzer, WISE, and VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) data show that the outburst began by 2006 and has a duration >13 yr, with a fairly flat peak from 2010 to 2014. The low pre-outburst luminosity implies a low-mass progenitor. The outburst luminosity of a few × 102 L⊙ is consistent with an accretion rate M ≈ 10-4 M⊙yr-1, comparable to a classical FU Orionis event. The 4.6 μm peak in 2010 implies T = 800-1000 K and a disc radial location R ≈ 4.5 au for the emitting region. The colour evolution suggests subsequent progression outwards. The apparent absence of the hotter matter expected in thermal instability or MRI models may be due to complete obscuration of the innermost disc, e.g. by an edge-on disc view. Alternatively, disc fragmentation/infalling fragment models might more naturally explain a mid-infrared peak, though this is not yet clear. © 2020 The Author(s).Ítem Establishing the Galactic Centre distance using VVV Bulge RR Lyrae variables(Springer Netherlands, 2018-06) Majaess D.; Dékány I.; Minniti D.; Turner D.; Gieren W.; Hajdu G.This study’s objective was to exploit infrared VVV (VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea) photometry for high latitude RRab stars to establish an accurate Galactic Centre distance. RRab candidates were discovered and reaffirmed (n= 4194) by matching Ks photometry with templates via χ2 minimization, and contaminants were reduced by ensuring targets adhered to a strict period-amplitude (Δ Ks) trend and passed the Elorietta et al. classifier. The distance to the Galactic Centre was determined from a high latitude Bulge subsample (| b| > 4 ∘, RGC= 8.30 ± 0.36 kpc, random uncertainty is relatively negligible), and importantly, the comparatively low color-excess and uncrowded location mitigated uncertainties tied to the extinction law, the magnitude-limited nature of the analysis, and photometric contamination. Circumventing those problems resulted in a key uncertainty being the MKs relation, which was derived using LMC RRab stars (MKs=−(2.66±0.06)logP−(1.03±0.06), (J−Ks)0=(0.31±0.04)logP+(0.35±0.02), assuming μ0 , LMC= 18.43). The Galactic Centre distance was not corrected for the cone-effect. Lastly, a new distance indicator emerged as brighter overdensities in the period-magnitude-amplitude diagrams analyzed, which arise from blended RRab and red clump stars. Blending may thrust faint extragalactic variables into the range of detectability. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.Ítem Extremely metal-poor stars in the Fornax and Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxies(EDP Sciences, 2024-09) Lucchesi R.; Jablonka P.; Skúladóttir Á.; Lardo C.; Mashonkina L.; Primas F.; Venn K.; Hill V.; Minniti D.We present our analysis of VLT/UVES and X-shooter observations of six very metal-poor stars, including four stars at [Fe/H] ≈ -3 in the Fornax and Carina dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies. To date, this metallicity range in these two galaxies has not yet been investigated fully, or at all in some cases. The chemical abundances of 25 elements are presented, based on 1D and local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) model atmospheres. We discuss the different elemental groups, and find that α- and iron-peak elements in these two systems are generally in good agreement with the Milky Way halo at the same metallicity. Our analysis reveals that none of the six stars we studied exhibits carbon enhancement, which is noteworthy given the prevalence of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars without s-process enhancement (CEMP-no) in the Galaxy at similarly low metallicities. Our compilation of literature data shows that the fraction of CEMP-no stars in dSph galaxies is significantly lower than in the Milky Way, and than in ultra-faint dwarf galaxies. Furthermore, we report the discovery of the lowest metallicity, [Fe/H] = -2.92, r-process rich (r-I) star in a dSph galaxy. This star, fnx-06-019, has [Eu/Fe] = +0.8, and also shows enhancement of La, Nd, and Dy, [X/Fe] > +0.5. Our new data in Carina and Fornax help populate the extremely low metallicity range in dSph galaxies, and add to the evidence of a low fraction of CEMP-no stars in these systems.Ítem Galactic bulge population II Cepheids in the VVV survey: Period-luminosity relations and a distance to the Galactic centre(EDP Sciences, 2017-09) Bhardwaj A.; Rejkuba M.; Minniti D.; Surot F.; Valenti E.; Zoccali M.; Gonzalez O.A.; Romaniello M.; Kanbur S.M.; Singh H.P.Context. Multiple stellar populations of different ages and metallicities reside in the Galactic bulge that trace its structure and provide clues to its formation and evolution. Aims. We present the near-infrared observations of population II Cepheids in the Galactic bulge from VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey. The JHKs photometry together with optical data from Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey provide an independent estimate of the distance to the Galactic centre. The old, metal-poor and low-mass population II Cepheids are also investigated as useful tracers for the structure of the Galactic bulge. Methods. We identify 340 population II Cepheids in the VVV survey Galactic bulge catalogue based on their match with the OGLE-III Catalogue. The single-epoch JH and multi-epoch Ks observations complement the accurate periods and optical (VI) mean-magnitudes from OGLE. The sample consisting of BL Herculis and W Virginis subtypes is used to derive period-luminosity relations after correcting mean-magnitudes for the extinction. Our Ks-band period-luminosity relation, Ks = -2.189(0.056) [log (P)-1] + 11.187(0.032), is consistent with published work for BL Herculis and W Virginis variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Results. We present a combined OGLE-III and VVV catalogue with periods, classification, mean magnitudes, and extinction for 264 Galactic bulge population II Cepheids that have good-quality Ks-band light curves. The absolute magnitudes for population II Cepheids and RR Lyraes calibrated using Gaia and Hubble Space Telescope parallaxes, together with calibrated magnitudes for Large Magellanic Cloud population II Cepheids, are used to obtain a distance to the Galactic centre, R0 = 8.34 ± 0.03(stat.) ± 0.41(syst.), which changes by with different extinction laws. While noting the limitation of small number statistics, we find that the present sample of population II Cepheids in the Galactic bulge shows a nearly spheroidal spatial distribution, similar to metal-poor RR Lyrae variables. We do not find evidence of the inclined bar as traced by the metal-rich red-clump stars. Conclusions. Population II Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables follow similar period-luminosity relations and trace the same metal-poor old population in the Galactic bulge. The number density for population II Cepheids is more limited as compared to abundant RR Lyraes but they are bright and exhibit a wide range in period that provides a robust period-luminosity relation for an accurate estimate of the distance to the Galactic centre. © ESO, 2017.Ítem Galactic Doppelgangers: The Chemical Similarity among Field Stars and among Stars with a Common Birth Origin(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2018-02) Ness M.; Rix H.; Hogg, David W.; Casey A.R.; Holtzman J.; Fouesneau M.; Zasowski G.; Geisler D.; Shetrone M.; Minniti D.; Frinchaboy, Peter M.; Roman-Lopes, AlexandreWe explore to what extent stars within Galactic disk open clusters resemble each other in the high-dimensional space of their photospheric element abundances and contrast this with pairs of field stars. Our analysis is based on abundances for 20 elements, homogeneously derived from APOGEE spectra (with carefully quantified uncertainties of typically 0.03 dex). We consider 90 red giant stars in seven open clusters and find that most stars within a cluster have abundances in most elements that are indistinguishable (in a X2-sense) from those of the other members, as expected for stellar birth siblings. An analogous analysis among pairs of >1000 field stars shows that highly significant abundance differences in the 20 dimensional space can be established for the vast majority of these pairs, and that the APOGEE-based abundance measurements have high discriminating power. However, pairs of field stars whose abundances are indistinguishable even at 0.03 dex precision exist: ∼0.3% of all field star pairs and ∼1.0% of field star pairs at the same (solar) metallicity [Fe/H]=0±0.02. Most of these pairs are presumably not birth siblings from the same cluster, but rather doppelgngers. Our analysis implies that chemical tagging in the strict sense, identifying birth siblings for typical disk stars through their abundance similarity alone, will not work with such data. However, our approach shows that abundances have extremely valuable information for probabilistic chemo-orbital modeling, and combined with velocities, we have identified new cluster members from the field.Ítem Galaxies in the zone of avoidance: Misclassifications using machine learning tools(EDP Sciences, 2024-06) Marchant Cortés P.; Nilo Castellón J.L.; Alonso M.V.; Baravalle L.; Villalon C.; Sgró M.A.; Daza-Perilla I.V.; Soto M.; Milla Castro F.; Minniti D.; Masetti N.; Valotto C.; Lares M.Context. Automated methods for classifying extragalactic objects in large surveys offer significant advantages compared to manual approaches in terms of efficiency and consistency. However, the existence of the Galactic disk raises additional concerns. These regions are known for high levels of interstellar extinction, star crowding, and limited data sets and studies. Aims. In this study, we explore the identification and classification of galaxies in the zone of avoidance (ZoA). In particular, we compare our results in the near-infrared (NIR) with X-ray data. Methods. We analyzed the appearance of objects in the Galactic disk classified as galaxies using a published machine-learning (ML) algorithm and make a comparison with the visually confirmed galaxies from the VVV NIRGC catalog. Results. Our analysis, which includes the visual inspection of all sources cataloged as galaxies throughout the Galactic disk using ML techniques reveals significant differences. Only four galaxies were found in both the NIR and X-ray data sets. Several specific regions of interest within the ZoA exhibit a high probability of being galaxies in X-ray data but closely resemble extended Galactic objects. Our results indicate the difficulty in using ML methods for galaxy classification in the ZoA, which is mainly due to the scarcity of information on galaxies behind the Galactic plane in the training set. They also highlight the importance of considering specific factors that are present to improve the reliability and accuracy of future studies in this challenging region.Ítem High-precision astrometry with VVV II. A near-infrared extension of Gaia into the Galactic plane(EDP Sciences, 2024-07) Griggio M.; Libralato M.; Bellini A.; Bedin L.R.; Anderson J.; Smith L.C.; Minniti D.Aims. We use near-infrared, ground-based data from the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey to indirectly extend the astrometry provided by the Gaia catalog to objects in heavily extinct regions toward the Galactic bulge and plane that are beyond Gaia’s reach. Methods. We made use of state-of-the-art techniques developed for high-precision astrometry and photometry with the Hubble Space Telescope to process the VVV data. We employed empirical, spatially variable, effective point spread functions and local transformations to mitigate the effects of systematic errors, like residual geometric distortion and image motion, and to improve measurements in crowded fields and for faint stars. We also anchored our astrometry to the absolute reference frame of Gaia Data Release 3. Results. We measure between 20 and 60 times more sources than Gaia in the region surrounding the Galactic center, obtaining a single-exposure precision of about 12 mas and a proper-motion precision of better than 1 mas yr−1 for bright, unsaturated sources. Our astrometry provides an extension of Gaia into the Galactic center. We publicly release the astro-photometric catalogs of the two VVV fields considered in this work, which contain a total of ∼3.5 million sources. Our catalogs cover ∼3 sq. deg, about 0.5% of the entire VVV survey area.Ítem Jurassic: A chemically anomalous structure in the Galactic halo(EDP Sciences, 2020-12) Fernandez-Trincado J.G.; Beers T.C.; Minniti D.Detailed elemental-abundance patterns of giant stars in the Galactic halo measured by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2) have revealed the existence of a unique and significant stellar subpopulation of silicon-enhanced ([Si/Fe] ≳ +0.5) metal-poor stars, spanning a wide range of metallicities (-1.5 ≲ [Fe/H] ≲-0.8). Stars with over-abundances in [Si/Fe] are of great interest because these have very strong silicon (28Si) spectral features for stars of their metallicity and evolutionary stage, offering clues about rare nucleosynthetic pathways in globular clusters (GCs). Si-rich field stars have been conjectured to have been evaporated from GCs, however, the origin of their abundances remains unclear, and several scenarios have been offered to explain the anomalous abundance ratios. These include the hypothesis that some of them were born from a cloud of gas previously polluted by a progenitor that underwent a specific and peculiar nucleosynthesis event or, alternatively, that they were due to mass transfer from a previous evolved companion. However, those scenarios do not simultaneously explain the wide gamut of chemical species that are found in Si-rich stars. Instead, we show that the present inventory of such unusual stars, as well as their relation to known halo substructures (including the in situ halo, Gaia-Enceladus, the Helmi Stream(s), and Sequoia, among others), is still incomplete. We report the chemical abundances of the iron-peak (Fe), the light-(C and N), the α-(O and Mg), the odd-Z (Na and Al), and the s-process (Ce and Nd) elements of 55 newly identified Si-rich field stars (among more than ∼600 000 APOGEE-2 targets), which exhibit over-abundances of [Si/Fe] as extreme as those observed in some Galactic GCs, and they are relatively well distinguished from other stars in the [Si/Fe]-[Fe/H] plane. This new census confirms the presence of a statistically significant and chemically-anomalous structure in the inner halo: Jurassic. The chemo-dynamical properties of the Jurassic structure is consistent with it being the tidally disrupted remains of GCs, which are easily distinguished by an over-abundance of [Si/Fe] among Milky Way populations or satellites. © J. G. Fernandez-Trincado et al. 2020.Ítem Over 200 globular clusters in the Milky Way and still none with super-Solar metallicity(EDP Sciences, 2024-07) Garro E.R.; Minniti D.; Fernández-Trincado J.G.Context. A large number of globular clusters in the Milky Way have been studied in recent years, especially in hidden regions such as those of the Galactic bulge. Aims. The main goal of this work is to understand what we can learn if we include these new objects into the Milky Way globular cluster (GC) system that we know today. We compiled a catalog of 37 recently discovered globular clusters. Most of them are located in the Galactic bulge, but we also included some of the GCs for comparison. Methods. We used a range of distributions for investigating the Galactic GC system based on the metallicity, luminosity function, and age. We considered three samples. We first treated the new GC sample separately from the known and well characterized GCs. Consequently, we merged these two samples, thereby upgrading the Milky Way GC system. Furthermore, we performed a comparison between our clusters sample and the field star population. Results. We found a double-peaked distribution for the luminosity function, which shows an elongated faint end tail. Considering the “merged” sample, the luminosity function peaks at MVup = −7.00 ± 1.3 mag and at MVup = −4.1 ± 0.48 mag. The metallicity distributions also display a bimodality trend. In this case, we compare our new sample compilation with previously published ones, finding that the distributions are in good general agreement. We also constructed the metallicity distribution for the field star sample and, by comparing it with that of the GCs, we learned that a high percentage of field stars show [Fe/H] > 0; whereas we did not detect any GCs in the same metallicity range. To understand this inconsistency, we constructed the age–metallicity diagram for both samples, noting that the old and metal-poor population (age ≥ 8 Gyr and [Fe/H] ≤ −1.0) is represented by Gcs, while the young and metal-rich population (age < 8 Gyr and [Fe/H] > −1.0) corresponds to field stars. Conclusions. From the analysis of the GC luminosity function and metallicity distribution, we can conclude that many GCs, probably those that are very faint, have survived strong dynamical processes that are typical of the bulge regions. Moreover, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of them have been accreted during past merging events, especially the metal-poor component, whereas the metal-rich population may be related to the formation of the bulge and/or disk. Finally, the difference that we notice between the cluster and field star samples should be explored in the context of the evolutionary differences among these two stellar populations.Ítem Small-scale star formation as revealed by VVVX galactic cluster candidates(Oxford University Press, 2020-12) Borissova J.; Kurtev R.; Amarinho N.; Alonso-García J.; Ramírez Alegría S.; Bernal S.; Medina N.; Chené A.-N.; Ivanov V.D.; Lucas P.W.; Minniti D.We report a search and analysis of obscured cluster candidates in the 'VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea eXtended (VVVX)' ESO Public Survey area encompassing the region between 229◦.4 < l < 295◦.2 and −4◦.3 < b < 4◦.4 of the southern Galactic disc. We discover and propose 88 new clusters. We improve the completeness of the embedded cluster population in this region, adding small size (linear diameters of 0.2-1.4 pc) and relatively far objects (heliocentric distance between 2 and 4 kpc) to existing catalogues. Nine candidates are proposed to be older open cluster candidates. Three of them (VVVX CL 204, CL 207, CL 208) have sufficient numbers of well-resolved stellar members to allow us to determine some basic cluster parameters. We confirm their nature as older, low-mass open clusters. Photometric analysis of 15 known clusters shows that they have ages above 20 Myr, and masses below 2000 M☉: in general, their proper motions follow the motion of the disc. We outline some groups of clusters, most probably formed within the same dust complex. Broadly, our candidates follow the network of filamentary structure in the remaining dust. Thus, in this part of the southern disc of the Galaxy, we have found recent star formation, producing small size and young clusters, in addition to the well-known, massive young clusters, including NGC 3603, Westerlund 2, and the Carina Nebula Complex. © 2020 The Author(s)Ítem The central velocity dispersion of the Milky Way bulge(EDP Sciences, 2018) Valenti E.; Zoccali M.; Mucciarelli A.; González O.A.; Surot F.; Minniti D.; Rejkuba M.; Pasquini L.; Fiorentino G.; Bono G.; Rich R.M.; Soto M.Context: Current spectroscopic and photometric surveys are providing a comprehensive view of the Milky Way bulge stellar population properties with unprecedented accuracy. This in turn allows us to explore the correlation between kinematics and stellar density distribution, crucial to constrain the models of Galactic bulge formation. Aims. The Giraffe Inner Bulge Survey (GIBS) revealed the presence of a velocity dispersion peak in the central few degrees of the Galaxy by consistently measuring high velocity dispersion in the three central most fields. Due to the suboptimal distribution of these fields, all being at negative latitudes and close to each other, the shape and extension of the sigma peak is poorly constrained. In this study we address this by adding new observations distributed more uniformly and in particular including fields at positive latitudes that were missing in GIBS. Methods. Observations with Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) were collected in four fields at (l, b) = (0◦, +2◦), (0◦, −2◦), (+1◦, −1◦), and (−1◦, +2◦). Individual stellar spectra were extracted for a number of stars comprised between ∼500 and ∼1200, depending on the seeing and the exposure time. Velocity measurements are done by cross-correlating observed stellar spectra in the CaT region with a synthetic template, and velocity errors are obtained through Monte Carlo simulations, cross-correlating synthetic spectra with a range of different metallicities and different noise characteristics. Results. We measure the central velocity dispersion peak within a projected distance from the Galactic center of ∼280 pc, reaching σVGC ∼ 140 km s−1 at b = −1◦. This is in agreement with the results obtained previously by GIBS at negative longitude. The central sigma peak is symmetric with respect to the Galactic plane, with a longitude extension at least as narrow as predicted by GIBS. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulations we present analytical equations for the radial velocity measurement error as a function of metallicity and signal-to-noise ratio for giant and dwarf stars. © ESO 2018.Ítem The Gaia -ESO Survey: Exploring the complex nature and origins of the Galactic bulge populations(EDP Sciences, 2017-05) Rojas-Arriagada A.; Recio-Blanco A.; De Laverny P.; Mikolaitis Š.; Matteucci F.; Spitoni E.; Schultheis M.; Hayden M.; Hill V.; Zoccali M.; Minniti D.; Gonzalez O.A.; Gilmore G.; Randich S.; Feltzing S.; Alfaro E.J.; Babusiaux C.; Bensby T.; Bragaglia A.; Flaccomio E.; Koposov S.E.; Pancino E.; Bayo A.; Carraro G.; Casey A.R.; Costado M.T.; Damiani F.; Donati P.; Franciosini E.; Hourihane A.; Jofré P.; Lardo C.; Lewis J.; Lind K.; Magrini L.; Morbidelli L.; Sacco G.G.; Worley C.C.; Zaggia S.Context. As observational evidence steadily accumulates, the nature of the Galactic bulge has proven to be rather complex: the structural, kinematic, and chemical analyses often lead to contradictory conclusions. The nature of the metal-rich bulge - and especially of the metal-poor bulge - and their relation with other Galactic components, still need to be firmly defined on the basis of statistically significant high-quality data samples. Aims. We used the fourth internal data release of the Gaia-ESO survey to characterize the bulge metallicity distribution function (MDF), magnesium abundance, spatial distribution, and correlation of these properties with kinematics. Moreover, the homogeneous sampling of the different Galactic populations provided by the Gaia-ESO survey allowed us to perform a comparison between the bulge, thin disk, and thick disk sequences in the [Mg/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] plane in order to constrain the extent of their eventual chemical similarities. Methods. We obtained spectroscopic data for ∼2500 red clump stars in 11 bulge fields, sampling the area -10° ≥ l ≥ +8° and -10° ≥ b ≥ -4° from the fourth internal data release of the Gaia-ESO survey. A sample of ∼6300 disk stars was also selected for comparison. Spectrophotometric distances computed via isochrone fitting allowed us to define a sample of stars likely located in the bulge region. Results. From a Gaussian mixture models (GMM) analysis, the bulge MDF is confirmed to be bimodal across the whole sampled area. The relative ratio between the two modes of the MDF changes as a function of b, with metal-poor stars dominating at high latitudes. The metal-rich stars exhibit bar-like kinematics and display a bimodality in their magnitude distribution, a feature which is tightly associated with the X-shape bulge. They overlap with the metal-rich end of the thin disk sequence in the [Mg/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] plane. On the other hand, metal-poor bulge stars have a more isotropic hot kinematics and do not participate in the X-shape bulge. Their Mg enhancement level and general shape in the [Mg/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] plane is comparable to that of the thick disk sequence. The position at which [Mg/Fe] starts to decrease with [Fe/H], called the "knee", is observed in the metal-poor bulge at [Fe/H]knee = -0:37 ± 0:09, being 0.06 dex higher than that of the thick disk. Although this difference is inside the error bars, it suggest a higher star formation rate (SFR) for the bulge than for the thick disk. We estimate an upper limit for this difference of Δ[Fe/H]knee = 0:24 dex. Finally, we present a chemical evolution model that suitably fits the whole bulge sequence by assuming a fast (<1 Gyr) intense burst of stellar formation that takes place at early epochs. Conclusions.We associate metal-rich stars with the bar boxy/peanut bulge formed as the product of secular evolution of the early thin disk. On the other hand, the metal-poor subpopulation might be the product of an early prompt dissipative collapse dominated by massive stars. Nevertheless, our results do not allow us to firmly rule out the possibility that these stars come from the secular evolution of the early thick disk. This is the first time that an analysis of the bulge MDF and α-abundances has been performed in a large area on the basis of a homogeneous, fully spectroscopic analysis of high-resolution, high S/N data. © ESO 2017.Ítem The Milky Way bar and bulge revealed by APOGEE and Gaia EDR3(EDP Sciences, 2021-12-01) Queiroz A.B.A.; Chiappini C.; Perez-Villegas A.; Khalatyan A.; Anders F.; Barbuy B.; Santiago B.X.; Steinmetz M.; Cunha K.; Schultheis M.; Majewski S.R.; Minchev I.; Minniti D.; Beaton R.L.; Cohen R.E.; Da Costa L.N.; Fernández-Trincado J.G.; Garcia-Hernández D.A.; Geisler D.; Hasselquist S.; Lane R.R.; Nitschelm C.; Rojas-Arriagada A.; Roman-Lopes A.; Smith V.; Zasowski G.We investigate the inner regions of the Milky Way using data from APOGEE and Gaia EDR3. Our inner Galactic sample has more than 26 500 stars within |XGal|< 5 kpc, |YGal|< 3.5 kpc, |ZGal|< 1 kpc, and we also carry out the analysis for a foreground-cleaned subsample of 8000 stars that is more representative of the bulge-bar populations. These samples allow us to build chemo-dynamical maps of the stellar populations with vastly improved detail. The inner Galaxy shows an apparent chemical bimodality in key abundance ratios [α/Fe], [C/N], and [Mn/O], which probe different enrichment timescales, suggesting a star formation gap (quenching) between the high- and low-α populations. Using a joint analysis of the distributions of kinematics, metallicities, mean orbital radius, and chemical abundances, we can characterize the different populations coexisting in the innermost regions of the Galaxy for the first time. The chemo-kinematic data dissected on an eccentricity-|Z|max plane reveal the chemical and kinematic signatures of the bar, the thin inner disc, and an inner thick disc, and a broad metallicity population with large velocity dispersion indicative of a pressure-supported component. The interplay between these different populations is mapped onto the different metallicity distributions seen in the eccentricity-|Z|max diagram consistently with the mean orbital radius and Vφ distributions. A clear metallicity gradient as a function of |Z|max is also found, which is consistent with the spatial overlapping of different populations. Additionally, we find and chemically and kinematically characterize a group of counter-rotating stars that could be the result of a gas-rich merger event or just the result of clumpy star formation during the earliest phases of the early disc that migrated into the bulge. Finally, based on 6D information, we assign stars a probability value of being on a bar orbit and find that most of the stars with large bar orbit probabilities come from the innermost 3 kpc, with a broad dispersion of metallicity. Even stars with a high probability of belonging to the bar show chemical bimodality in the [α/Fe] versus [Fe/H] diagram. This suggests bar trapping to be an efficient mechanism, explaining why stars on bar orbits do not show a significant, distinct chemical abundance ratio signature.Ítem The nature of 50 Palermo Swift -BAT hard X-ray objects through optical spectroscopy(EDP Sciences, 2017-07) Rojas A.F.; Masetti N.; Minniti D.; Jiménez-Bailón E.; Chavushyan V.; Hau G.; McBride V.A.; Bassani L.; Bazzano A.; Bird A.J.; Galaz G.; Gavignaud I.; Landi R.; Malizia A.; Morelli L.; Palazzi E.; Patiño-Álvarez V.; Stephen J.B.; Ubertini P.We present the nature of 50 hard X-ray emitting objects unveiled through an optical spectroscopy campaign performed at seven telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres. These objects were detected with the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) instrument onboard the Swift satellite and listed as of unidentified nature in the 54-month Palermo BAT catalogue. In detail, 45 sources in our sample are identified as active galactic nuclei of which, 27 are classified as type 1 (with broad and narrow emission lines) and 18 are classified as type 2 (with only narrow emission lines). Among the broad-line emission objects, one is a type 1 high-redshift quasi-stellar object, and among the narrow-line emission objects, one is a starburst galaxy, one is a X-ray bright optically normal galaxy, and one is a low ionization nuclear emission line region. We report 30 new redshift measurements, 13 confirmations and 2 more accurate redshift values. The remaining five objects are galactic sources: three are Cataclismic Variables, one is a X-ray Binary probably with a low mass secondary star, and one is an active star. © ESO, 2017.