@article{MurrayStanimirovicMcClureGriffithsetal.2015, author = {Murray, Claire E. and Stanimirovic, Snezana and McClure-Griffiths, Naomi M. and Putman, Mary E. and Liszt, Harvey S. and Wong, Tony and Richter, Philipp and Dawson, Joanne R. and Dickey, John M. and Lindner, Robert R. and Babler, Brian L. and Allison, James R.}, title = {First detection of HCO+ absorption in the magellanic system}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {808}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/808/1/41}, pages = {6}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We present the first detection of HCO+ absorption in the Magellanic System. Using the ATCA, we observed nine extragalactic radio continuum sources behind the Magellanic System and detected HCO+ absorption toward one source located behind the leading edge of the Magellanic Bridge. The detection is located at an LSR velocity of v = 214.0 +/- 0.4 km s(-1), with an FWHM of Delta v = 4.5 +/- 1.0 km s(-1), and an optical depth of tau (HCO+) = 0.10 +/- 0.02. Although there is abundant neutral hydrogen (H I) surrounding the sight line in position-velocity space, at the exact location of the absorber the H I column density is low, <10(20) cm(-2), and there is little evidence for dust or CO emission from Planck observations. While the origin and survival of molecules in such a diffuse environment remain unclear, dynamical events such as H I flows and cloud collisions in this interacting system likely play an important role.}, language = {en} } @article{MuravevaPalmerClementinietal.2015, author = {Muraveva, Tatiana and Palmer, Max and Clementini, Gisella and Luri, Xavier and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Moretti, Maria Ida and Marconi, Marcella and Ripepi, Vincenzo and Rubele, Stefano}, title = {New near-infrared period-luminosity-metallicity relations for RR lyrae stars and the outlock for GAIA}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {807}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/807/2/127}, pages = {17}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We present results of the analysis of 70 RR Lyrae stars located in the bar of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Combining the spectroscopically determined metallicity of these stars from the literature with precise periods from the OGLE III catalog and multi-epoch K-s photometry from the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system, we derive a new near-infrared period-luminosity-metallicity (PLKsZ) relation for RR Lyrae variables. In order to fit the relation we use a fitting method developed specifically for this study. The zero-point of the relation is estimated two different ways: by assuming the value of the distance to the LMC and by using Hubble Space Telescope parallaxes of five RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way (MW). The difference in distance moduli derived by applying these two approaches is similar to 0.2 mag. To investigate this point further we derive the PL(Ks)Z relation based on 23 MW RR Lyrae stars that had been analyzed in Baade-Wesselink studies. We compared the derived PL(Ks)Z relations for RR Lyrae stars in the MW and LMC. Slopes and zero-points are different, but still consistent within the errors. The shallow slope of the metallicity term is confirmed by both LMC and MW variables. The astrometric space mission Gaia is expected to provide a huge contribution to the determination of the RR Lyrae PL(Ks)Z relation; however, calculating an absolute magnitude from the trigonometric parallax of each star and fitting a PL(Ks)Z relation directly to period and absolute magnitude leads to biased results. We present a tool to achieve an unbiased solution by modeling the data and inferring the slope and zero-point of the relation via statistical methods.}, language = {en} } @article{PiattideGrijsRipepietal.2015, author = {Piatti, Andres E. and de Grijs, Richard and Ripepi, Vincenzo and Ivanov, Valentin D. and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Marconi, Marcella and Rubele, Stefano and Bekki, Kenji and For, Bi-Qing}, title = {The VMC survey - XVI. Spatial variation of the cluster formation activity in the innermost regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {454}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stv2054}, pages = {839 -- 848}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @article{EvansvanLoonHainichetal.2015, author = {Evans, Chris J. and van Loon, Jacco Th and Hainich, Rainer and Bailey, M.}, title = {2dF-AAOmega spectroscopy of massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds The north-eastern region of the Large Magellanic Cloud}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {584}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201525882}, pages = {19}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We present spectral classifications from optical spectroscopy of 263 massive stars in the north-eastern region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observed two-degree field includes the massive 30 Doradus star-forming region, the environs of SN1987A, and a number of star-forming complexes to the south of 30 Dor. These are the first classifications for the majority (203) of the stars and include eleven double-lined spectroscopic binaries. The sample also includes the first examples of early OC-type spectra (AA Omega 30 Dor 248 and 280), distinguished by the weakness of their nitrogen spectra and by C IV lambda 4658 emission. We propose that these stars have relatively unprocessed CNO abundances compared to morphologically normal O-type stars, indicative of an earlier evolutionary phase. From analysis of observations obtained on two consecutive nights, we present radial-velocity estimates for 233 stars, finding one apparent single-lined binary and nine (>3 sigma) outliers compared to the systemic velocity; the latter objects could be runaway stars or large-amplitude binary systems and further spectroscopy is required to investigate their nature.}, language = {en} } @article{HainichPasemannTodtetal.2015, author = {Hainich, Rainer and Pasemann, Diana and Todt, Helge Tobias and Shenar, Tomer and Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer}, title = {Wolf-Rayet stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud I. Analysis of the single WN stars}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {581}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201526241}, pages = {30}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Context. Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars have a severe impact on their environments owing to their strong ionizing radiation fields and powerful stellar winds. Since these winds are considered to be driven by radiation pressure, it is theoretically expected that the degree of the wind mass-loss depends on the initial metallicity of WR stars. Aims. Following our comprehensive studies of WR stars in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC, we derive stellar parameters and mass-loss rates for all seven putatively single WN stars known in the SMC. Based on these data, we discuss the impact of a low-metallicity environment on the mass loss and evolution of WR stars. Methods. The quantitative analysis of the WN stars is performed with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. The physical properties of our program stars are obtained from fitting synthetic spectra to multi-band observations. Results. In all SMC WN stars, a considerable surface hydrogen abundance is detectable. The majority of these objects have stellar temperatures exceeding 75 kK, while their luminosities range from 10(5.5) to 10(6.1) L-circle dot. The WN stars in the SMC exhibit on average lower mass-loss rates and weaker winds than their counterparts in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC. Conclusions. By comparing the mass-loss rates derived for WN stars in different Local Group galaxies, we conclude that a clear dependence of the wind mass-loss on the initial metallicity is evident, supporting the current paradigm that WR winds are driven by radiation. A metallicity effect on the evolution of massive stars is obvious from the HRD positions of the SMC WN stars at high temperatures and high luminosities. Standard evolution tracks are not able to reproduce these parameters and the observed surface hydrogen abundances. Homogeneous evolution might provide a better explanation for their evolutionary past.}, language = {en} } @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} }