@article{RomitaLadaCioni2016,
  author    = {Romita, Krista and Lada, Elizabeth and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L.},
  title     = {EMBEDDED CLUSTERS IN THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD USING THE VISTA MAGELLANIC CLOUDS SURVEY},
  series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics},
  volume    = {821},
  journal   = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics},
  publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.},
  address   = {Bristol},
  issn      = {0004-637X},
  doi       = {10.3847/0004-637X/821/1/51},
  pages     = {10},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {We present initial results of the first large-scale survey of embedded star clusters in molecular clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using near-infrared imaging from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy Magellanic Clouds Survey. We explored a ~1.65 deg2 area of the LMC, which contains the well-known star-forming region 30 Doradus as well as ~14\% of the galaxy's CO clouds, and identified 67 embedded cluster candidates, 45 of which are newly discovered as clusters. We have determined the sizes, luminosities, and masses for these embedded clusters, examined the star formation rates (SFRs) of their corresponding molecular clouds, and made a comparison between the LMC and the Milky Way. Our preliminary results indicate that embedded clusters in the LMC are generally larger, more luminous, and more massive than those in the local Milky Way. We also find that the surface densities of both embedded clusters and molecular clouds is ~3 times higher than in our local environment, the embedded cluster mass surface density is ~40 times higher, the SFR is ~20 times higher, and the star formation efficiency is ~10 times higher. Despite these differences, the SFRs of the LMC molecular clouds are consistent with the SFR scaling law presented in Lada et al. This consistency indicates that while the conditions of embedded cluster formation may vary between environments, the overall process within molecular clouds may be universal.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MartinJungbluthNideveretal.2016,
  author    = {Martin, Nicolas F. and Jungbluth, Valentin and Nidever, David L. and Bell, Eric F. and Besla, Gurtina and Blum, Robert D. and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Conn, Blair C. and Kaleida, Catherine C. and Gallart, Carme and Jin, Shoko and Majewski, Steven R. and Martinez-Delgado, David and Monachesi, Antonela and Munoz, Ricardo R. and Noel, Noelia E. D. and Olsen, Knut and Stringfellow, Guy S. and van der Marel, Roeland P. and Vivas, A. Katherina and Walker, Alistair R. and Zaritsky, Dennis},
  title     = {SMASH 1: A VERY FAINT GLOBULAR CLUSTER DISRUPTING IN THE OUTER REACHES OF THE LMC?},
  series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters},
  volume    = {830},
  journal   = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters},
  publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.},
  address   = {Bristol},
  issn      = {2041-8205},
  doi       = {10.3847/2041-8205/830/1/L10},
  pages     = {92 -- 98},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MorettiClementiniMarconietal.2016,
  author    = {Moretti, M. I. and Clementini, Gisella and Marconi, V. Ripepi M. and Rubele, S. and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Muraveva, T. and Groenewegen, M. A. T. and Cross, N. J. G. and Ivanov, V. D. and Piatti, A. E. and de Grijs, R.},
  title     = {The VMC survey - XX. Identification of new Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {459},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/stw716},
  pages     = {1687 -- 1697},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {We present K-s-band light curves for 299 Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) of which 288 are new discoveries that we have identified using multi-epoch near-infrared photometry obtained by the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC). The new Cepheids have periods in the range from 0.34 to 9.1 d and cover the magnitude interval 12.9 <= currency sign < K-s > <= currency sign 17.6 mag. Our method was developed using variable stars previously identified by the optical microlensing survey OGLE. We focus on searching new Cepheids in external regions of the SMC for which complete VMC K-s-band observations are available and no comprehensive identification of different types of variable stars from other surveys exists yet.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RipepiMarconiMorettietal.2016,
  author    = {Ripepi, V. and Marconi, M. and Moretti, M. I. and Clementini, Gisella and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and de Grijs, R. and Emerson, J. P. and Groenewegen, M. A. T. and Ivanov, V. D. and Piatti, A. E.},
  title     = {THE VMC SURVEY. XIX. CLASSICAL CEPHEIDS IN THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD},
  series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Supplement series},
  volume    = {224},
  journal   = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Supplement series},
  publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.},
  address   = {Bristol},
  issn      = {0067-0049},
  doi       = {10.3847/0067-0049/224/2/21},
  pages     = {199 -- 229},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The "VISTA near-infrared YJK(s) survey of the Magellanic Clouds System" (VMC) is collecting deep K-s-band time-series photometry of pulsating variable stars hosted by the two Magellanic Clouds and their connecting Bridge. In this paper, we present Y, J, K-s light curves for a sample of 4172 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) Classical Cepheids (CCs). These data, complemented with literature V values, allowed us to construct a variety of period-luminosity (PL), period-luminosity-color (PLC), and period-Wesenheit (PW) relationships, which are valid for Fundamental (F), First Overtone (FO), and Second Overtone (SO) pulsators. The relations involving the V, J, K-s bands are in agreement with their counterparts in the literature. As for the Y band, to our knowledge, we present the first CC PL, PW, and PLC relations ever derived using this filter. We also present the first near-infrared PL, PW, and PLC relations for SO pulsators to date. We used PW(V, K-s) to estimate the relative SMC-LMC distance and, in turn, the absolute distance to the SMC. For the former quantity, we find a value of Delta mu = 0.55. +/- 0.04 mag, which is in rather good agreement with other evaluations based on CCs, but significantly larger than the results obtained from older population II distance indicators. This discrepancy might be due to the different geometric distributions of young and old tracers in both Clouds. As for the absolute distance to the SMC, our best estimates are mu(SMC) = 19.01 +/- 0.05 mag and mu(SMC) = 19.04 +/- 0.06 mag, based on two distance measurements to the LMC which rely on accurate CC and eclipsing Cepheid binary data, respectively.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PiattiIvanovRubeleetal.2016,
  author    = {Piatti, Andres E. and Ivanov, Valentin D. and Rubele, Stefano and Marconi, Marcella and Ripepi, Vincenzo and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Oliveira, Joana M. and Bekki, Kenji},
  title     = {The VMC Survey - XXI. New star cluster candidates discovered from infrared photometry in the Small Magellanic Cloud},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {460},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/stw1000},
  pages     = {383 -- 395},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{IvanovCioniBekkietal.2016,
  author    = {Ivanov, Valentin D. and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Bekki, Kenji and de Grijs, Richard and Emerson, Jim and Gibson, Brad K. and Kamath, Devika and van Loon, Jacco Th. and Piatti, Andres E. and For, Bi-Qing},
  title     = {New quasars behind the Magellanic Clouds. Spectroscopic confirmation of near-infrared selected candidates},
  series = {Current biology},
  volume    = {588},
  journal   = {Current biology},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527398},
  pages     = {12},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Context. Quasi-stellar objects (quasars) located behind nearby galaxies provide an excellent absolute reference system for astrometric studies, but they are difficult to identify because of fore-and background contamination. Deep wide-field, high angular resolution surveys spanning the entire area of nearby galaxies are needed to obtain a complete census of such quasars. Aims. We embarked on a program to expand the quasar reference system behind the Large and the Small Magellanic Clouds, the Magellanic Bridge, and the Magellanic Stream that connects the Clouds with the Milky Way. Methods. Hundreds of quasar candidates were selected based on their near-infrared colors and variability properties from the ongoing public ESO VISTA Magellanic Clouds survey. A subset of 49 objects was followed up with optical spectroscopy. Results. We confirmed the quasar nature of 37 objects (34 new identifications): four are low redshift objects, three are probably stars, and the remaining three lack prominent spectral features for a secure classification. The bona fide quasars, identified from their broad emisison lines, are located as follows: 10 behind the LMC, 13 behind the SMC, and 14 behind the Bridge. The quasars span a redshift range from z similar to 0.5 to z similar to 4.1. Conclusions. Upon completion the VMC survey is expected to yield a total of similar to 1500 quasars with Y < 19.32 mag, J < 19.09 mag, and K-s < 18.04 mag.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CioniBekkiGirardietal.2016,
  author    = {Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Bekki, Kenji and Girardi, Leo and de Grijs, Richard and Irwin, Mike J. and Ivanov, Valentin D. and Marconi, Marcella and Oliveira, Joana M. and Piatti, Andres E. and Ripepi, Vincenzo and van Loon, Jacco Th.},
  title     = {XVII. Proper motions of the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way globular cluster 47 Tucanae},
  series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics},
  volume    = {586},
  journal   = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527004},
  pages     = {67 -- 75},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Aims. In this study we use multi-epoch near-infrared observations from the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Cloud system (VMC) to measure the proper motions of different stellar populations in a tile of 1.5 deg2 in size in the direction of the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc. We obtain the proper motion of the cluster itself, of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), and of the field Milky Way stars. Methods. Stars of the three main stellar components are selected according to their spatial distributions and their distributions in colour\&\#8722;magnitude diagrams. Their average coordinate displacement is computed from the difference between multiple Ks-band observations for stars as faint as Ks = 19 mag. Proper motions are derived from the slope of the best-fitting line among ten VMC epochs over a time baseline of ~1 yr. Background galaxies are used to calibrate the absolute astrometric reference frame. Results. The resulting absolute proper motion of 47 Tuc is (\&\#956;\&\#945;cos(\&\#948;), \&\#956;\&\#948;) = (+7.26 ± 0.03, \&\#8722;1.25 ± 0.03) mas yr-1. This measurement refers to about 35 000 sources distributed between 10\&\#8242; and 60\&\#8242; from the cluster centre. For the SMC we obtain (\&\#956;\&\#945;cos(\&\#948;), \&\#956;\&\#948;) = (+1.16 ± 0.07, \&\#8722;0.81 ± 0.07) mas yr-1 from about 5250 red clump and red giant branch stars. The absolute proper motion of the Milky Way population in the line of sight (l = 305.9, b = \&\#8722;44.9) of this VISTA tile is (\&\#956;\&\#945;cos(\&\#948;), \&\#956;\&\#948;) = (+10.22 ± 0.14, \&\#8722;1.27 ± 0.12) mas yr-1 and has been calculated from about 4000 sources. Systematic uncertainties associated with the astrometric reference system are 0.18 mas yr-1. Thanks to the proper motion we detect 47 Tuc stars beyond its tidal radius.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ShenarHainichTodtetal.2016,
  author    = {Shenar, Tomer and Hainich, Rainer and Todt, Helge Tobias and Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Moffat, Anthony F. J. and Eldridge, J. J. and Pablo, H. and Oskinova, Lida and Richardson, N. D.},
  title     = {Wolf-Rayet stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud II. Analysis of the binaries},
  series = {American mineralogist : an international journal of earth and planetary materials},
  volume    = {591},
  journal   = {American mineralogist : an international journal of earth and planetary materials},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527916},
  pages     = {25},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Context. Massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are evolved massive stars (M-i greater than or similar to 20 M-circle dot) characterized by strong mass-loss. Hypothetically, they can form either as single stars or as mass donors in close binaries. About 40\% of all known WR stars are confirmed binaries, raising the question as to the impact of binarity on the WR population. Studying WR binaries is crucial in this context, and furthermore enable one to reliably derive the elusive masses of their components, making them indispensable for the study of massive stars. Aims. By performing a spectral analysis of all multiple WR systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), we obtain the full set of stellar parameters for each individual component. Mass-luminosity relations are tested, and the importance of the binary evolution channel is assessed. Methods. The spectral analysis is performed with the PotsdamWolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code by superimposing model spectra that correspond to each component. Evolutionary channels are constrained using the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) evolution tool. Results. Significant hydrogen mass fractions (0.1 < X-H < 0.4) are detected in all WN components. A comparison with mass-luminosity relations and evolutionary tracks implies that the majority of the WR stars in our sample are not chemically homogeneous. The WR component in the binary AB6 is found to be very luminous (log L approximate to 6.3 [L-circle dot]) given its orbital mass (approximate to 10 M-circle dot), presumably because of observational contamination by a third component. Evolutionary paths derived for our objects suggest that Roche lobe overflow had occurred in most systems, affecting their evolution. However, the implied initial masses (greater than or similar to 60 M-circle dot) are large enough for the primaries to have entered the WR phase, regardless of binary interaction. Conclusions. Together with the results for the putatively single SMC WR stars, our study suggests that the binary evolution channel does not dominate the formation of WR stars at SMC metallicity.},
  language  = {en}
}