Paola Marigo

PARSEC: stellar tracks and isochrones with the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code

We present the updated version of the code used to compute stellar evolutionary tracks in Padova. It is the result of a thorough revision of the major in put physics, together with the inclusion of the pre‐main sequence phase, not present in our previous releases of stellar models. Another innovative aspect is the possibility of prompt ly generating accurate opacity tables fully consistent with any selected initial chemical composition, by coupling the OPAL opacity data at high temperatures to the molecular opacities computed with our AESOPUS code (Marigo & Aringer 2009). In this work we present extended sets of stellar evolutionary models for various initial chemical compositions, while other set s with different metallicities and/or different distributions of heavy elements are being computed. For the present release of models we adopt the solar distribution of heavy elements from the recent revision by Caffau et al. (2011), corresponding to a Sun’s metallicity Z≃ 0.0152. From all computed sets of stellar tracks, we also derive isochrones in several photometric systems. The aim is to provide the community with the basic tools to model star clusters and galaxies by means of population synthesis techniques.

Evolution of asymptotic giant branch stars. II. Optical to far-infrared isochrones with improved TP-AGB models

We present a large set of theoretical isochrones, whose distinctive features mostly reside on the greatly-improved treatment of the thermally-pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) phase. Essentially, we have coupled the TP-AGB tracks described in Paper I, at their stages of pre-flash quiescent H-shell burning, with the evolutionary tracks for the previous evolutionary phases from Girardi et al. (2000, AA the bell-shaped sequences in the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram for stars with hot-bottom burning; the changes of pulsation mode between fundamental and first overtone; the sudden changes of mean mass-loss rates as the surface chemistry changes from M- to C-type; etc. Theoretical isochrones are then converted to about 20 different photometric systems - including traditional ground-based systems, and those of recent major wide-field surveys such as SDSS, OGLE, DENIS, 2MASS, UKIDSS, etc., - by means of synthetic photometry applied to an updated library of stellar spectra, suitably extended to include C-type stars. Finally, we correct the predicted photometry for the effect of circumstellar dust during the mass-losing stages of the AGB evolution, which allows us to improve the results for the optical-to-infrared systems, and to simulate mid- and far-IR systems such as those of Spitzer and AKARI. We illustrate the most striking properties of these isochrones by means of basic comparisons with observational data for the Milky Way disc and the Magellanic Clouds. Access to the data is provided both via a web repository of static tables (http://stev.oapd.inaf.it/ dustyAGB07 and CDS), and via an interactive web interface (http://stev.oapd. inaf. it/cmd), which provides tables for any intermediate value of age and metallicity, for several photometric systems, and for different choices of dust properties.

Chemical yields from low- and intermediate-mass stars: model predictions and basic observational constraints

In this work we analyse the role of low- and intermediate-mass stars in contributing to the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium. First we present new sets of stellar yields basing on the results of updated evolutionary calculations, which extend from the ZAMS up to the end of the AGB phase (Girardi et al. [CITE]; Marigo et al. [CITE]). These new yields, that present a significant dependence on metallicity, are then compared to those of other available sets (Renzini & Voli [CITE]; van de Hoek & Groenewegen [CITE]). The resulting differences are explained in terms of different model assumptions -i.e. treatment of convective boundaries, mass loss, dredge-up, hot-bottom burning - and further discussed on the basis of important empirical constraints which should be reproduced by theory -i.e. the initial-final mass relation, white dwarf mass distribution, carbon star luminosity function, and chemical abundances of planetary nebulae. We show that present models are able to reproduce such constraints in a satisfactory way.

Scaled solar tracks and isochrones in a large region of the Z-Y plane I. From the ZAMS to the TP-AGB end for 0.15-2.5 M stars

Context. In many astrophysical contexts, the helium content of stars may differ significantly from those usually assumed in evolution- ary calculations. Aims. In order to improve upon this situation, we have computed tracks and isochrones in the range of initial masses 0.15−20 Mfor a grid of 39 chemical compositions with the metal content Z between 0.0001 and 0.070 and helium content Y between 0.23 and 0.46. Methods. The Padova stellar evolution code has been implemented with updated physics. New synthetic TP-AGB models allow the extension of stellar models and isochrones until the end of the thermal pulses along the AGB. Software tools for the bidimensional interpolation (in Y and Z) of the tracks have been tuned. Results. This first paper presents tracks for low mass stars (from 0.15 to 2.5 M� ) with scaled-solar abundances and the corresponding isochrones from very old ages down to about 1 Gyr. Conclusions. Tracks and isochrones are made available in tabular form for the adopted grid of chemical compositions in the plane Z-Y. As soon as possible an interactive web interface will allow users to obtain isochrones of any chemical composition and also simulated stellar populations with different Y(Z) helium-to-metal enrichment laws.

The ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury IX. Constraining asymptotic giant branch evolution with old metal-poor galaxies

In an attempt to constrain evolutionary models of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase at the limit of low masses and low metallicities, we have examined the luminosity functions and number ratios between AGB and red giant branch (RGB) stars from a sample of resolved galaxies from the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury. This database provides Hubble Space Telescope optical photometry together with maps of completeness, photometric errors, and star formation histories for dozens of galaxies within 4 Mpc. We select 12 galaxies characterized by predominantly metal-poor populations as indicated by a very steep and blue RGB, and which do not present any indication of recent star formation in their color-magnitude diagrams. Thousands of AGB stars brighter than the tip of the RGB (TRGB) are present in the sample (between 60 and 400 per galaxy), hence, the Poisson noise has little impact in our measurements of the AGB/RGB ratio. We model the photometric data with a few sets of thermally pulsing AGB (TP-AGB) evolutionary models with different prescriptions for the mass loss. This technique allows us to set stringent constraints on the TP-AGB models of low-mass, metal-poor stars (with M < 1.5 M_⊙, [Fe/H] ≾ -1.0). Indeed, those which satisfactorily reproduce the observed AGB/RGB ratios have TP-AGB lifetimes between 1.2 and 1.8 Myr, and finish their nuclear burning lives with masses between 0.51 and 0.55 M_⊙. This is also in good agreement with recent observations of white dwarf masses in the M4 old globular cluster. These constraints can be added to those already derived from Magellanic Cloud star clusters as important mileposts in the arduous process of calibrating AGB evolutionary models.

Evolution of asymptotic giant branch stars - I. Updated synthetic TP-AGB models and their basic calibration

We present new synthetic models of the TP-AGB evolution. They are computed for 7 values of initial metal content (Z from 0.0001 to 0.03) and for initial masses between 0.5 and 5.0 M� , thus extending the low- and intermediate-mass tracks of Girardi et al. (2000) to the beginning of the post-AGB phase. The calculations are performed by means of a synthetic code that incorporates many recent improvements, among which we mention: (1) the use of detailed and revised analytical relations to describe the evolution of quiescent luminosity, inter-pulse period, third dredge-up, hot bottom burning, pulse cycle luminosity variations, etc.; (2) the use of variable molecular opacities – i.e. opacities consistent with the changing photospheric chemical composition – in the integration of a complete envelope model, instead of the standard choice of scaled-solar opacities; (3) the use of formalisms for the mass-loss rates derived from pulsating dust-driven wind models of C- and O-rich AGB stars; and (4) the switching of pulsation modes between the first overtone and the fundamental one along the evolution, which has consequences in terms of the history of mass loss. It follows that, in addition to the time evolution on the HR diagram, the new models also consistently predict variations in surface chemical compositions, pulsation modes and periods, and mass-loss rates. The onset and efficiency of the third dredge-up process are calibrated in order to reproduce basic observables like the carbon star luminosity functions in the Magellanic Clouds and TP-AGB lifetimes (star counts) in Magellanic Cloud clusters. In this first paper, we describe in detail the model ingredients, basic properties, and calibration. Particular emphasis is put on illustrating the effects of using variable molecular opacities. Forthcoming papers will present the theoretical isochrones and chemical yields derived from these tracks and additional tests performed with the aid of a complete population synthesis code.

Improving PARSEC models for very low mass stars

Many stellar models present difficulties in reproducing basic observational relations of very low mass stars (VLMS), including the mass--radius relation and the optical colour--magnitudes of cool dwarfs. Here, we improve PARSEC models on these points. We implement the T--tau relations from PHOENIX BT-Settl model atmospheres as the outer boundary conditions in the PARSEC code, finding that this change alone reduces the discrepancy in the mass--radius relation from 8 to 5 per cent. We compare the models with multi--band photometry of clusters Praesepe and M67, showing that the use of T--tau relations clearly improves the description of the optical colours and magnitudes. But anyway, using both Kurucz and PHOENIX model spectra, model colours are still systematically fainter and bluer than the observations. We then apply a shift to the above T--tau relations, increasing from 0 at T_eff = 4730 K to ~14% at T_eff = 3160 K, to reproduce the observed mass--radius radius relation of dwarf stars. Taking this experiment as a calibration of the T--tau relations, we can reproduce the optical and near infrared CMDs of low mass stars in the old metal--poor globular clusters NGC6397 and 47Tuc, and in the intermediate--age and young solar--metallicity open clusters M67 and Praesepe. Thus, we extend PARSEC models using this calibration, providing VLMS models more suitable for the lower main sequence stars over a wide range of metallicities and wavelengths. Both sets of models are available on PARSEC webpage.

Asymptotic Giant Branch evolution at varying surface C/O ratio: effects of changes in molecular opacities

We investigate the eects of molecular opacities on the evolution of TP-AGB stars that experience the third dredge-up, i.e. with surface abundances of carbon and oxygen varying with time. To this aim, a routine is constructed to derive the molecular concentrations through dissociation equilibrium calculations, and estimate the opacities due to H2 ,H 2O, OH, C2, CN, and CO for any given density, temperature and chemical composition of the gas. Then, synthetic TP-AGB models with dredge-up are calculated by either adopting the newly developed routine, or interpolating between xed opacity tables for solar chemical composition. The comparison between the two cases shows that the change in the dominant opacity sources, as the C/O ratio grows from below to above unity, crucially aects the evolution of the eective temperature, i.e. causing a notable cooling of the carbon- rich models (with C/O> 1). From the comparison with observational data, it turns out that TP-AGB models with variable molecular opacities are able to reproduce the observed range of eective temperatures, mass-loss rates, and wind expansion velocities of C-type giants in the solar neighbourhood, otherwise failed if assuming xed molecular opacities for solar-scaled mixtures. Finally, we mention other possibly important evolutionary and observational eects that result from the adoption of the variable opacities, such as: i) signicant shortening of the C-star phase due to the earlier onset of the super-wind; ii) consequent reduction of the carbon yields; iii) reproduction of the observed range of near-infrared colours of C-stars.

Zero-metallicity stars - I. Evolution at constant mass

We present extensive evolutionary models of stars with initial zero-metallicity, covering a large range of initial masses (i.e. 0:7 M M 100 M). Calculations are carried out at constant mass, with updated input physics, and applying an overshooting scheme to convective boundaries. The nuclear network includes all the important reactions of the p-p chain, CNO-cycle and -captures, and is solved by means of a suitable semi-implicit method. The evolution is followed up to the thermally pulsing AGB in the case of low- and intermediate-mass stars, or to the onset of carbon burning in massive stars. The main evolutionary features of these models are discussed, also in comparison with models of non-zero metallicity. Among several interesting aspects, particular attention has been paid to describe: i) the rst synthesis of 12 C inside the stars, that may suddenly trigger the CNO-cycle causing particular evolutionary features; ii) the pollution of the stellar surface by the dredge-up events, that are eective only within particular mass ranges; iii) the mass limits which conventionally dene the classes of low-, intermediate-, and high-mass stars on the basis of common evolutionary properties, including the upper mass limit for the achievement of super-Eddington luminosities before C-ignition in the high-mass regime; and iv) the expected pulsational properties of zero-metallicity stars. All relevant information referring to the evolutionary tracks and isochrones is made available in computer-readable format.

New PARSEC evolutionary tracks of massive stars at low metallicity: testing canonical stellar evolution in nearby star-forming dwarf galaxies

We extend the {\sl\,PARSEC} library of stellar evolutionary tracks by computing new models of massive stars, from 14\Msun to 350\Msun. The input physics is the same used in the {\sl\,PARSEC}~V1.1 version, but for the mass-loss rate which is included by considering the most recent updates in literature. We focus on low metallicity,