J. Pritchard

On the metallicity gradient of the Galactic disk

Aims. The iron abundance gradient in the Galactic stellar disk provides fundamental constraints on the chemical evolution of this important Galaxy component, however the spread around the mean slope is, at fixed Galactocentric distance, more than the estimated uncertainties. Methods. To provide quantitative constraints on these trends, we adopted iron abundances for 265 classical Cepheids (more than 50% of the currently known sample) based either on high-resolution spectra or on photometric metallicity indices. Homogeneous distances were estimated using near-infrared period-luminosity relations. The sample covers the four disk quadrants, and their Galactocentric distances range from similar to 5 to similar to 17 kpc. We provided a new theoretical calibration of the metallicity-index-color (MIC) relation based on Walraven and NIR photometric passbands. Results. We estimated the photometric metallicity of 124 Cepheids. Among them 66 Cepheids also have spectroscopic iron abundances and we found that the mean difference is -0.03 +/- 0.15 dex. We also provide new iron abundances, based on high-resolution spectra, for four metal-rich Cepheids located in the inner disk. The remaining iron abundances are based on high-resolution spectra collected by our group (73) or available in the literature (130). A linear regression over the entire sample provides an iron gradient of -0.051 +/- 0.004 dex kpc(-1). The above slope agrees quite well, within the errors, with previous estimates based either on Cepheids or on open clusters covering similar Galactocentric distances. However, Cepheids located in the inner disk systematically appear more metal-rich than the mean metallicity gradient. Once we split the sample into inner (R(G) <8 kpc) and outer disk Cepheids, the slope (-0.130 +/- 0.015 dex kpc(-1)) in the former region is approximate to 3 times steeper than the slope in the latter one (-0.042 +/- 0.004 dex kpc(-1)). In the outer disk the radial distribution of metal-poor (MP, [Fe/H] <-0.02 dex) and metal-rich (MR) Cepheids across the four disk quadrants does not show a clear trend when moving from the innermost to the external disk regions. The relative fractions of MP and MR Cepheids in the 1st and in the 3rd quadrants differ at the 8 sigma (MP) and 15 sigma (MR) levels. Finally, we found that iron abundances in two local overdensities of the 2nd and of the 4th quadrant cover individually a range in iron abundance of approximate to 0.5 dex. Conclusions. Current findings indicate that the recent chemical enrichment across the Galactic disk shows a clumpy distribution.

An optical time-delay for the lensed BAL quasar HE 2149-2745

We present optical V and i-band light curves of the gravitationally lensed BAL quasar HE 2149-2745. The data, obtained with the 1.5 m Danish Telescope (ESO-La Silla) between October 1998 and December 2000, are the first from a long-term project aimed at monitoring selected lensed quasars in the Southern Hemisphere. A time delay of 103+/-12 days is determined from the light curves. In addition, VLT/FORS1 spectra of HE 2149-2745 are deconvolved in order to obtain the spectrum of the faint lensing galaxy, free of any contamination by the bright nearby two quasar images. By cross-correlating the spectrum with galaxy-templates we obtain a tentative redshift estimate of z=0.495+/-0.01. Adopting this redshift, a Omega =0.3, Lambda =0.7 cosmology, and a chosen analytical lens model, our time-delay measurement yields a Hubble constant of H0=66 +/- 8 km s-1 Mpc-1 (1sigma error) with an estimated systematic error of +/-3 km s-1 Mpc-1. Using non-parametric models yields H0=65 +/- 8 km s-1 Mpc-1 (1sigma error) and confirms that the lens exhibits a very dense/concentrated mass profile. Finally, we note, as in other cases, that the flux ratio between the two quasar components is wavelength dependent. While the flux ratio in the broad emission lines - equal to 3.7 - remains constant with wavelength, the continuum of the brighter component is bluer. Although the data do not rule out extinction of one quasar image relative to the other as a possible explanation, the effect could also be produced by differential microlensing by stars in the lensing galaxy.

New Baade-Wesselink distances and radii for four metal-rich Galactic Cepheids ?

Aims. We provide accurate estimates of distances, radii, and iron abundances of four metal-rich Cepheids, namely V340 Ara, UZ Sct, AV Sgr, and VY Sgr. The main aim of this investigation is to constrain their pulsation properties and their location across the Galactic inner disk. Methods. We adopted new accurate NIR (J, H,K) light curves and new radial velocity measurements for the target Cepheids to determinate their distances and radii using the Baade-Wesselink technique. In particular, we adopted the most recent calibrations of both the IR surface brightness relation and the projection factor. We also provide accurate measurements of the iron abundance of the target Cepheids. Results. Current distance estimates agree to within one σ with similar distances based on either empirical or theoretical NIR PeriodLuminosity (P-L) relations. However, the uncertainties in the Baade-Wesselink distances are on average a factor of 3–4 smaller than errors affecting other distance determinations. Mean Baade-Wesselink radii also agree at the one σ level with Cepheid radii based either on empirical or theoretical Period-Radius relations. Iron abundances are, within one σ, similar to those determined by Andrievsky and collaborators, thus confirming that the target Cepheids are super metal-rich. We also found that the luminosity amplitudes of classical Cepheids, at odds with RR Lyrae stars, do not exhibit a clear correlation with their metal content. This circumstantial evidence appears to be caused by the Hertzsprung progression and the dependence of the topology of the instability strip on metallicity, evolutionary effects, and binaries.

VSOP: The Variable Star One-shot Project ⋆ I. Project presentation and first data release

Context. About 500 new variable stars enter the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) every year. Most of them however lack spectroscopic observations, which remains critical for a correct assignement of the variability type and for the understanding of the object. Aims. The Variable Star One-shot Project (VSOP) is aimed at (1) providing the variability type and spectral type of all unstudied variable stars, (2) process, publish, and make the data available as automatically as possible, and (3) generate serendipitous discoveries. This first paper describes the project itself, the acquisition of the data, the dataflow, the spectroscopic analysis and the on-line availability of the fully calibrated and reduced data. We also present the results on the 221 stars observed during the first semester of the project. Methods. We used the high-resolution echelle spectrographs HARPS and FEROS in the ESO La Silla Observatory (Chile) to survey known variable stars. Once reduced by the dedicated pipelines, the radial velocities are determined from cross correlation with synthetic template spectra, and the spectral types are determined by an automatic minimum distance matching to synthetic spectra, with traditional manual spectral typing cross-checks. The variability types are determined by manually evaluating the available light curves and the spectroscopy. In the future, a new automatic classifier, currently being developed by members of the VSOP team, based on these spectroscopic data and on the photometric classifier developed for the COROT and Gaia space missions, will be used. Results. We confirm or revise spectral types of 221 variable stars from the GCVS. We identify 26 previously unknown multiple systems, among them several visual binaries with spectroscopic binary individual components. We present new individual results for the multiple systems V349 Vel and BC Gru, for the composite spectrum star V4385 Sgr, for the T Tauri star V1045 Sco, and for DM Boo which we re-classify as a BY Draconis variable. The complete data release can be accessed via the VSOP web site.

Photometric monitoring of the doubly imaged quasar UM 673: possible evidence for chromatic microlensing

We present the results of two-band CCD photometric monitoring of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q 0142−100 (UM 673). The data, obtained at ESO-La Silla with the 1.54 m Danish telescope in the Gunn i-band (October 1998−September 1999) and in the Johnson V-band (October 1998 to December 2001), were analyzed using three different photometric methods. The light-curves obtained with all methods show variations, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.14 mag in V. Although it was not possible to measure the time delay between the two lensed QSO images, the brighter component displays possible evidence for microlensing: it becomes bluer as it gets brighter, as expected under the assumption of differential magnification of a quasar accretion disk.

Discovery of a peculiar Cepheid-like star towards the northern edge of the Small Magellanic Cloud ,

Context: For seven years, the EROS-2 project obtained a mass of photometric data on variable stars. We present a peculiar Cepheid-like star, in the direction of the Small Magellanic Cloud, which demonstrates unusual photometric behaviour over a short time interval. Aims: We report on data of the photometry acquired by the MARLY telescope and spectroscopy from the EFOSC instrument for this star, called EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842), which resembles the unusual Cepheid HR 7308. Methods: The light curve of our target is analysed using the Analysis of Variance method to determine a pulsational period of 5.5675 days. A fit of time-dependent Fourier coefficients is performed and a search for proper motion is conducted. Results: The light curve exhibits a previously unobserved and spectacular change in both mean magnitude and amplitude, which has no clear theoretical explanation. Our analysis of the spectrum implies a radial velocity of 104 km s-1 and a metallicity of -0.4±0.2 dex. In the direction of right ascension, we measure a proper motion of 17.4±6.0 mas yr-1 using EROS astrometry, which is compatible with data from the NOMAD catalogue. Conclusions: The nature of EROS2 J005135-714459(sm0060n13842) remains unclear. For this star, we may have detected a non-zero proper motion, which would imply that it is a foreground object. Its radial velocity, pulsational characteristics, and photometric data, however, suggest that it is instead a Cepheid-like object located in the SMC. In such a case, it would present a challenge to conventional Cepheid models. Based on observations made by the EROS-2 collaboration with the MARLY, 1.54 m Danish and 3.60 m telescopes at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile. The photometric data is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/486/891