Martin Netopil

On the current status of open-cluster parameters

We aim to characterize the current status of knowledge on the accuracy of open-cluster parameters such as the age, reddening and distance. These astrophysical quantities are often used to study the global characteristics of the Milky Way down to the very local stellar phenomena. In general, the errors of these quantities are neglected or set to some kind of heuristic standard value. We attempt to give some realistic estimates for the accuracy of available cluster parameters by using the independently derived values published in the literature. In total, 6437 individual estimates for 395 open clusters were used in our statistical analysis. We discuss the error sources depending on theoretical as well as observational methods and compare our results with those parameters listed in the widely used catalogue by Dias et al. In addition, we establish a list of 72 open clusters with the most accurate known parameters which should serve as a standard table in the future for testing isochrones and stellar models.

On the metallicity of open clusters - II. Spectroscopy

Context. Open clusters are an important tool for studying the chemical evolution of the Galactic disk. Metallicity estimates are available for about ten percent of the currently known open clusters. These metallicities are based on widely differing methods, however, which introduces unknown systematic effects. Aims. In a series of three papers, we investigate the current status of published metallicities for open clusters that were derived from a variety of photometric and spectroscopic methods. The current article focuses on spectroscopic methods. The aim is to compile a comprehensive set of clusters with the most reliable metallicities from high-resolution spectroscopic studies. This set of metallicities will be the basis for a calibration of metallicities from different methods. Methods. The literature was searched for [Fe/H] estimates of individual member stars of open clusters based on the analysis of high-resolution spectra. For comparison, we also compiled [Fe/H] estimates based on spectra with low and intermediate resolution. At medium and high resolution, we found that differences in the analysis methods have a stronger effect on the metallicity than that of quality differences in the observations. We retained only highly probable cluster members and introduced a restriction on atmospheric parameters. Results. We combined 641 individual metallicity values for 458 stars in 78 open clusters from 86 publications to form our final set of high-quality cluster metallicities. The photometric metallicities discussed in the first paper of this series are systematically lower than the spectroscopic ones by about 0.1 dex, and the differences show a scatter of about 0.2 dex. In a preliminary comparison of our spectroscopic sample with models of Galactic chemical evolution, none of the models predicts the observed radial metallicity gradient. Conclusions. Photometric metallicities show a large intrinsic dispersion, while the more accurate spectroscopic sample presented in this paper comprises fewer than half the number of clusters. Only a sophisticated combination of all available photometric and spectroscopic data will allow us to trace the metallicity distribution in the Galactic disk on a local and global scale.

Chemically peculiar stars and their temperature calibration

Aims. The determination of effective temperature for chemically peculiar (CP) stars by means of photometry is a sophisticated task due to their abnormal colours. Standard calibrations for normal stars lead to erroneous results and, in most cases corrections are necessary. Methods. In order to specify appropriate corrections, direct temperature determinations for 176 objects of the different subgroups were collected from the literature. This much larger sample than in previous studies therefore allows a more accurate investigation, mostly based on average temperatures. Results. For the three main photometric systems (UBV, Geneva, Stromgren uvbyβ), methods to determine effective temperature are presented together with a comparison with former results. Based on the compiled data we provide evidence that He (CP4) objects also need a considerable correction, not noticed in former investigations due to their small number. Additionally, a new relation for the bolometric correction and the capability of standard calibrations to deduce interstellar reddening for magnetic CP stars are shown.

A photometric study of chemically peculiar stars with the STEREO satellites - I. Magnetic chemically peculiar stars

About 10 per cent of upper main-sequence stars are characterized by the presence of chemical peculiarities, often found together with a structured magnetic field. The atmospheres of most of those chemically peculiar stars present surface spots, leading to photometric variability caused by rotational modulation. The study of the light curves of those stars therefore permits a precise measurement of their rotational period, which is important to study stellar evolution and to plan further detailed observations. We analysed the light curves of 1028 chemically peculiar stars obtained with the STEREO spacecraft. We present here the results obtained for the 337 magnetic chemically peculiar stars in our sample. Thanks to the cadence and stability of the photometry, STEREO data are perfectly suitable to study variability signals with a periodicity typical of magnetic chemically peculiar stars. Using a matched filter algorithm and then two different period searching algorithms, we compiled a list of 82 magnetic chemically peculiar stars for which we measured a reliable rotational period; for 48 of them, this is the first measurement of their rotational period. The remaining 255 stars are likely to be constant, although we cannot exclude the presence of long-period variability. In some cases, the presence of blending or systematic effects prevented us from detecting any reliable variability and in those cases we classified the star as constant. For each star we classified as variable, we determined temperature, luminosity, mass and fractional age, but the limited statistics, biased towards the shorter periods, prevented us from finding any evolutionary trend of the rotational period. For a few stars, the comparison between their projected rotational velocity and equatorial velocity let us believe that their real rotational period might be longer than that found here and previously obtained. For the 82 stars identified as variable, we give all necessary information needed to plan further phase-dependent observations.

On the metallicity of open clusters: I. Photometry

Context. Metallicity is one of four free parameters typically considered when fitting isochrones to the cluster sequence. Unfortunately, this parameter is often ignored or assumed to be solar in most papers. Hence an unknown bias is introduced in the estimation of the other three cluster parameters (age, reddening and distance). Furthermore, studying the metallicity of open clusters allows us not only to derive the Galactic abundance gradient on a global scale, but also to trace the local solar environment in more detail. Aims. In a series of three papers, we investigate the current status of published metallicities for open clusters from widely different photometric and spectroscopic methods. A detailed comparison of the results allows us to establish more reliable photometric calibrations and corrections for isochrone fitting techniques. Well established databases such as WEBDA help us to perform a homogeneous analysis of available measurements for a significant number of open clusters. Methods. The literature was searched for [Fe/H] estimates on the basis of photometric calibrations in any available filter system. On the basis of results published by Tadross, we demonstrate the caveats of the calibration choice and its possible impact. In total, we find 406 individual metallicity values for 188 open clusters within 64 publications. The values were, finally, unweightedly averaged. Results. Our final sample includes [Fe/H] values for 188 open clusters. Tracing the solar environment within 4000 x 4000 pc(2) we identify a patchy metallicity distribution as an extension to the Local Bubble that significantly influences the estimation of the Galactic metallicity gradient, even on a global scale. In addition, further investigations of more distant open clusters are clearly needed to obtain a more profound picture at Galactocentric distances beyond 10 000 pc. Conclusions. Only a combination of all available photometric and spectroscopic data will shed more light on how the local and global Galactic properties are correlated with metallicity.

A comparative study on the reliability of open cluster parameters

Open clusters are known as excellent tracers of the structure and chemical evolution of the Galactic disk, however, the accuracy and reliability of open cluster parameters is poorly known. In recent years, several studies aimed to present homogeneous open cluster parameter compilations, which are based on some different approaches and photometric data. These catalogues are excellent sources to facilitate testing of the actual accuracy of open cluster parameters. We compare seven cluster parameter compilations statistically and with an external sample, which comprises the mean results of individual studies. Furthermore, we selected the objects IC 4651, NGC 2158, NGC 2383, NGC 2489, NGC 2627, NGC 6603, and Trumpler 14, with the main aim to highlight differences in the fitting solutions. We derived correction terms for each cluster parameter, using the external calibration sample. Most results by the compilations are reasonable scaled, but there are trends or constant offsets of different degree. We also identified one data set, which appears too erroneous to allow adjustments. After the correction, the mean intrinsic errors amount to about 0.2 dex for the age, 0.08 mag for the reddening, and 0.35 mag for the distance modulus. However, there is no study that characterises the cluster morphologies of all test cases in a correct and consistent manner. Furthermore, we found that the largest compilations probably include at least 20 percent of problematic objects, for which the parameters differ significantly. These could be among others doubtful or unlikely open clusters that do not facilitate an unambiguous fitting solution.

A high-resolution study of isotopic composition and chemical abundances of blue horizontal branch stars in the globular clusters NGC 6397 and NGC 6752

Aims. Large abundance anomalies have been previously detected in Horizontal Branch B-type stars. It has been suggested that at Teff > 11 000 K the stellar atmospheres become susceptible to diffusion effects and thus develop surface abundances similar to those that appear in the main-sequence, chemically peculiar group of A and B-type stars. We present the first high-resolution study of isotopic anomalies and chemical abundances in six Horizontal Branch B-type stars in globular clusters NGC 6397 and NGC 6752 and compare them to those observed in HgMn stars. Methods. We obtained high-resolution (up to R ∼ 115 000) UVES spectra of a representative sample of six B-type stars (T183, T191, T193, B652, B2151, B2206) with sharp spectral lines (v sini ≤ 10 km s −1 ). The stars T183 and B2151 were observed on two consecutive nights to examine potential spectrum variability. A detailed spectrum analysis was done relying on Kurucz ATLAS9 and ATLAS12 models. The spectra were analysed using the SYNTHE code to generate synthetic spectra. Results. It is the first time an abundance analysis is performed for all elements for which spectral lines were detected in UVES spectra of Horizontal Branch B-type stars. Our study of these stars revealed no signs of He isotopic anomalies, which would produce a 3 He/ 4 He ratio different from the solar one. The isotopic anomaly of Ca is detected in all six studied stars. The chemical abundance analysis reveals an overabundance over the solar values of P, Ti, Mn, Fe, and Y and an overabundance over the cluster metallicity of Mg, Ca, and Cr. This behaviour is very similar in all six stars of both clusters with a few exceptions: the Na abundance is larger by more than 1.4 dex than the cluster metallicity in B652, and by more than 0.8 dex greater than the cluster metallicity in B2206; the Co abundance is 1.0 dex over the solar abundance for T191, while Zr is overabundant over the solar abundance by 0.4 dex in B2206. No lines of Hg or other heavy elements were observed in the spectra. Weak emission lines of Ti ii, similar to those frequently observed in HgMn stars have been discovered in one Horizontal Branch B-type star T191. Furthermore, we detected a radial velocity change of 0.9 km s −1 from one night to the next for T183 and 0.4 km s −1 for B2151. Further high-resolution observations are needed to examine whether both stars are spectroscopic binaries.

CCD photometric search for peculiar stars in open clusters - VI. NGC 1502, NGC 3105, Stock 16, NGC 6268, NGC 7235 and NGC 7510

In a sample of six young open clusters (NGC 1502, NGC 3105, Stock 16, NGC 6268, NGC 7235, and NGC 7510) we investigated 1753 objects using the narrow band, three filter ∆a photometric system resulting in the detection of eleven bona-fide magnetic chemically peculiar (CP) stars and five Be or metal-weak stars. The results for the distant cluster NGC 3105 is most important because of the still unknown influence of the global metallicity gradient of the Milky Way. These findings confirm that CP stars are present in open clusters of very young ages (log t ≥ 6.90) at galactocentric distances up to 11.4 kpc. For all programme clusters the age, reddening, and distance modulus were derived using the corresponding isochrones. Some additional variable stars within Stock 16 could be identified by comparing different photometric studies.

CCD photometric search for peculiar stars in open clusters - VIII. King 21, NGC 3293, NGC 5999, NGC 6802, NGC 6830, Ruprecht 44, Ruprecht 115, and Ruprecht 120

Institute of Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatory, P.O. Box 136, BG-4700 Smolyan, BulgariaReceived 2006 / Accepted 2006ABSTRACTContext. We continue our survey for magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars in galactic open clusters to shed morelight on their origin and evolution.Aims. To study the group of CP2 stars, it is essential to find these objects in different galactic environments and at awide range of evolutionary stages. The knowledge of open clusters ages and metallicities can help to find a correlationof these parameters with the (non-)presence of peculiarities which has to be taken into account in stellar evolutionmodels.Methods. The intermediate band ∆a photometric system samples the depth of the 5200˚A flux depression by comparingthe flux at the center with the adjacent regions with bandwidths of 110˚A to 230 ˚A. It is capable to detect magneticCP2 and CP4 stars with high efficiency, but also the groups of (metal-weak) λ Bootis, as well as classical Be/shell starscan be successfully investigated. In addition, it allows to determine the age, reddening and distance modulus with anappropriate accuracy by fitting isochrones.Results. From the 1677 observed members of the eight open clusters, twenty five CP2 and one Ae stars were identified.Further nineteen deviating stars are designated as questionable due to several reasons. The estimated age, reddeningand distance for the programme clusters were compared with published vales of the literature and discussed in thiscontext.Conclusions. The current paper shows that CP2 stars are present continuously in very young (7Myr) to intermediateage (500Myr) open clusters at distances larger than 2kpc from the Sun.Key words. Stars: chemically peculiar – stars: early-type – techniques: photometric – open clusters and associations:general

Towards a photometric metallicity scale for open clusters

Open clusters are a useful tool when investigating several topics connected with stellar evolution; for example the age or distance can be more accurately determined than for field stars. However, one important parameter, the metallicity, is only known for a marginal percentage of open clusters. We aim at a consistent set of parameters for the open clusters investigated in our photometric Delta-a survey of chemically peculiar stars. Special attention is paid to expanding our knowledge of cluster metallicities and verifying their scale. Making use of a previously developed method based on normalised evolutionary grids and photometric data, the distance, age, reddening, and metallicity of open clusters were derived. To transform photometric measurements into effective temperatures to use as input for our method, a set of temperature calibrations for the most commonly used colour indices and photometric systems was compiled. We analysed 58 open clusters in total. Our derived metallicity values were in excellent agreement with about 30 spectroscopically studied targets. The mean value of the absolute deviations was found to be 0.03 dex, with no noticeable offset or gradient. The method was also applied using recent evolutionary models based on the currently accepted lower solar abundance value Z=0.014. No significant differences were found compared to grids using the former adopted solar value Z=0.02. Furthermore, some divergent photometric datasets were identified and discussed. The method provides an accurate way of obtaining properly scaled metallicity values for open clusters. In light of present and future homogeneous photometric sky surveys, the sample of stellar clusters can be extended to the outskirts of the Milky Way, where spectroscopic studies are almost impossible. This will help for determining galactic metallicity gradients in more detail.