Ph. Jetzer

Dark matter versus modifications of the gravitational inverse-square law: results from planetary motion in the Solar system

Dark matter or modifications of the Newtonian inverse-square law in the Solar system are studied with accurate planetary astrometric data. From extraperihelion precession and possible changes in the third Kepler’s law, we get an upper limit on the local dark matter density, ρDM 3 × 10 −16 kg m −3 at the 2σ confidence level. Variations in the 1/r 2 behaviour are considered in the form of either a possible Yukawa-like interaction or a modification of gravity of Milgrom’s modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) type. Up to scales of 10 11 m, scale-dependent deviations in the gravitational acceleration are really small. We examined the MOND interpolating function μ in the regime of strong gravity. Gradually varying μ suggested by fits of rotation curves are excluded, whereas the standard form μ(x) = x/(1 + x 2 ) 1/2 is still compatible with data. In combination with constraints from galactic rotation curves and theoretical considerations on the external field effect, the absence of any significant deviation from inverse square attraction in the Solar system makes the range of acceptable interpolating functions significantly narrow. Future radio ranging observations of outer planets with an accuracy of few tenths of a metre could either give positive evidence of dark matter or disprove modifications of gravity.

Colour and stellar population gradients in galaxies: correlation with mass

We analyse the colour gradients (CGs) of ∼50 000 nearby Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies estimated by their photometrical parameters (Sersic index, total magnitude and effective radius). From synthetic spectral models based on a simplified star formation recipe, we derive the mean spectral properties and explain the observed radial trends of the colour as gradients of the stellar population age and metallicity. CGs have been correlated with colour, luminosity, size, velocity dispersion and stellar mass. Distinct behaviours are found for early- and late-type galaxies (ETGs and LTGs), pointing to slightly different physical processes at work in different morphological types and at different mass scales. In particular, the most massive ETGs (M * ≳ 10 11 M ⊙ ) have shallow (even flat) CGs in correspondence of shallow (negative) metallicity gradients. In the stellar mass range (10 10.3 -10 10.5 ) ≲ M * ≲ 10 11 M ⊙ , the metallicity gradients reach their minimum of ∼ - 0.5 dex -1 . At M * ∼ 10 10.3 - 10 10.5 M ⊙ , colour and metallicity gradient slopes suddenly change. They turn out to anticorrelate with the mass, becoming highly positive at the very low masses, the transition from negative to positive occurring at M * ∼ 10 9-9.5 M ⊙ . These correlations are mirrored by similar trends of CGs with the effective radius and the velocity dispersion. We have also found that age gradients anticorrelate with metallicity gradients, as predicted by hierarchical cosmological simulations for ETGs. On the other side, LTGs have colour and metallicity gradients which systematically decrease with mass (and are always more negative than in ETGs), consistently with the expectation from gas infall and supernovae feedback scenarios. Metallicity is found to be the main driver of the trend of CGs, especially for LTGs, but age gradients are not negligible and seem to play a significant role too. Owing to the large data set, we have been able to highlight that older galaxies have systematically shallower age and metallicity gradients than younger ones. The emerging picture is qualitatively consistent with the predictions from hydrodynamical and chemodynamical simulations. In particular, our results for high-mass galaxies are in perfect agreement with predictions based on the merging scenario, while the evolution of LTGs and younger and less massive ETGs seems to be mainly driven by infall and supernovae feedback.

Classical novae from the POINT-AGAPE microlensing survey of M31 : II. Rate and statistical characteristics of the nova population

The POINT-AGAPE (Pixel-lensing Observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope- Andromeda Galaxy Amplified Pixels Experiment) survey is an optical search for gravitational microlensing events towards the Andromeda galaxy (M31). As well as microlensing, the survey is sensitive to many different classes of variable stars and transients. In our first paper of this series, we reported the detection of 20 classical novae (CNe) observed in Sloan rand i � passbands. An analysis of the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline (MMRD) relationship in M31 is performed using the resulting POINT-AGAPE CN catalogue. Within the limits of the uncertainties of extinction internal to M31, good fits are produced to the MMRD in two filters. The MMRD calibration is the first to be performed for Sloan rand ifilters. However, we are unable to verify that novae have the same absolute magnitude 15 d after peak (the t15 relationship), nor any similar relationship for either Sloan filter. The subsequent analysis of the automated pipeline has provided us with the most thorough knowledge of the completeness of a CN survey to date. In addition, the large field of view of the survey has permitted us to probe the outburst rate well into the galactic disc, unlike previous CCD imaging surveys. Using this analysis, we are able to probe the CN distribution of M31 and evaluate the global nova rate. Using models of the galactic surface brightness of M31, we show that the observed CN distribution consists of a separate bulge and disc population. We also show that the M31 bulge CN eruption rate per unit rflux is more than five times greater

Classical novae from the POINT–AGAPE microlensing survey of M31 – I. The nova catalogue

The POINT-AGAPE (Pixel-lensing Observations with the Isaac Newton Telescope-Andromeda Galaxy Amplified Pixels Experiment) survey is an optical search for gravitational microlensing events towards the Andromeda galaxy (M31). As well as microlensing, the survey is sensitive to many different classes of variable stars and transients. Here we describe the automated detection and selection pipeline used to identify M31 classical novae (CNe) and we present the resulting catalogue of 20 CN candidates observed over three seasons. CNe are observed both in the bulge region as well as over a wide area of the M31 disc. Nine of the CNe are caught during the final rise phase and all are well sampled in at least two colours. The excellent light-curve coverage has allowed us to detect and classify CNe over a wide range Qf speed class, from very fast to very slow. Among the light curves is a moderately fast CN exhibiting entry into a deep transition minimum, followed by its final decline. We have also observed in detail a very slow CN which faded by only 0.01 mag d -1 over a 150-d period. We detect other interesting variable objects, including one of the longest period and most luminous Mira variables. The CN catalogue constitutes a uniquely well-sampled and objectively-selected data set with which to study the statistical properties of CNe in M31, such as the global nova rate, the reliability of novae as standard-candle distance indicators and the dependence of the nova population on stellar environment. The findings of this statistical study will be reported in a follow-up paper.

The POINT-AGAPE Survey - I. The variable stars in M31

For the purposes of identifying microlensing events, the POINT-AGAPE collaboration has been monitoring the Andromeda galaxy (M31) for three seasons (1999-2001) with the Wide Field Camera on the Isaac Newton Telescope. In each season, data are taken for one hour per night for roughly sixty nights during the six months that M31 is visible. The two 33 ′ ×33 ′ fields of view straddle the central bulge, northwards and sou thwards. We have calculated the locations, periods and brightness of 35414 variable stars i n M31 as a by-product of the microlensing search. The variables are classified according t o their period and brightness. Rough correspondences with classical types of variable star (suc h as population I and II Cepheids, Miras and semi-regular long-period variables) are established. The spatial distribution of population I Cepheids is clearly associated with the spiral arm s, while the central concentration of the Miras and long-period variables varies noticeably, t he brighter and the shorter period Miras being much more centrally concentrated. A crucial role in the microlensing experiment is played by the asymmetry signal ‐ the excess of events expected in the southern or more distant fiel ds as measured against those in the northern or nearer fields. It was initially assumed that t he variable star populations in M31 would be symmetric with respect to the major axis, and thus variable stars would not be a serious contaminant for measuring the microlensing asymmetry signal. We demonstrate that this assumption is not correct. All the variable star distributi ons are asymmetric primarily because of the effects of differential extinction associated with the dust lanes. The siz e and direction of the asymmetry of the variable stars is measured as a function of period and brightness. The implications of this discovery for the successful completi on of the microlensing experiments towards M31 are discussed.

The Anomaly in the Candidate Microlensing Event PA-99-N2

The light curve of PA-99-N2, one of the recently announced microlensing candidates toward M31, shows small deviations from the standard Paczynski form. We explore a number of possible explanations, including correlations with the seeing, the parallax effect, and a binary lens. We find that the observations are consistent with an unresolved red giant branch or asymptotic giant branch star in M31 being microlensed by a binary lens. We find that the best-fit binary lens mass ratio is ~1.2 × 10-2, which is one of the most extreme values found for a binary lens so far. If both the source and lens lie in the M31 disk, then the standard M31 model predicts the probable mass range of the system to be 0.02-3.6 ☉ (95% confidence limit). In this scenario, the mass of the secondary component is therefore likely to be below the hydrogen-burning limit. On the other hand, if a compact halo object in M31 is lensing a disk or spheroid source, then the total lens mass is likely to lie between 0.09 and 32 ☉, which is consistent with the primary being a stellar remnant and the secondary being a low-mass star or brown dwarf. The optical depth (or, alternatively, the differential rate) along the line of sight toward the event indicates that a halo lens is more likely than a stellar lens, provided that dark compact objects comprise no less than 15% (or 5%) of halos.

Pixel lensing as a way to detect extrasolar planets in M31

We study the possibility to detect extrasolar planets in M31 through pixel-lensing observations. Using a Monte Carlo approach, we select the physical parameters of the binary lens system, a star hosting a planet, and we calculate the pixel-lensing light curve taking into account the finite source effects. Indeed, their inclusion is crucial since the sources in M31 microlensing events are mainly giant stars. Light curves with detectable planetary features are selected by looking for significant deviations from the corresponding Paczy´ nski shapes. We find that the timescale of planetary deviations in light curves increase (up to 3–4 d) as the source size increases. This means that only few exposures per day, depending also on the required accuracy, may be sufficient to reveal in the light curve a planetary companion. Although the mean planet mass for the selected events is about 2 MJupiter, even small mass planets (M P < 20 M⊕) can cause significant deviations, at least in the observations with large telescopes. However, even in the former case, the probability to find detectable planetary features in pixel-lensing light curves is at most a few per cent of the detectable events, and therefore many events have to be collected in order to detect an extrasolar planet in M31. Our analysis also supports the claim that the anomaly found in the candidate event PA-99-N2 towards M31 can be explained by a companion object orbiting the lens star.

A case for a baryonic dark halo.

Recent observations of microlensing events in the Large Magellanic Cloud by the MACHO and EROS collaborations suggest that an important fraction of the galactic halo is in the form of Massive Halo Objects (MHO) with mass

CENTRAL DARK MATTER TRENDS IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES FROM STRONG LENSING, DYNAMICS AND STELLAR POPULATIONS

\sim 0.1 M_{\odot}

Microlensing search towards M31

. We outline a scenario in which dark clusters of MHO with mass