The carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars constitutes an important index of evolutionary and environment/metallicity factor. We develop a method for mass C/O classification of AGBs in photometric surveys without using periods. For this purpose we rely on the slopes in the tracks of individual stars in the colour-magnitude diagram. We demonstrate that our method enables the separation of C-rich and O-rich AGB stars with little confusion. For the Magellanic Clouds we demonstrate that this method works for several photometric surveys and filter combinations. As we rely on no period identification, our results are relatively insensitive to the phase coverage, aliasing, and time-sampling problems that plague period analyses. For a subsample of our stars, we verify our C/O classification against published C/O catalogues. With our method we are able to produce C/O maps of the entire Magellanic Clouds. Our purely photometric method for classification of C- and O-rich AGBs constitutes a method of choice for large, near-infrared photometric surveys. Because our method depends on the slope of colour-magnitude variation but not on magnitude zero point, it remains applicable to objects with unknown distances.
Pulsation period of Cepheids should change as stars evolve through the instability strip. Rates of these changes found by other authors based on the decades-long O-C diagrams show rather good agreement with theoretical predictions. We have checked the variability on the scale of a few years on the data recently published by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) for the Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids and found period changes for 18% of fundamental mode and 41% of first overtone pulsators. It suggest the overtone pulsations are less stable than the fundamental ones. For stars whic…
We present a new sample of 525 Mira variables in the direction of the Galactic Bulge, expanding on previous samples of 69 and 500 objects, respectively, and thereby concluding our search for new Mira variables in the MACHO Galactic Bulge fields. 364 Miras of the present sample are reported as variable stars for the first time. We have cross-correlated our sample with the sample of Mira stars from the OGLE-III Catalog of Long-Period Variables (LPVs) in the Galactic Bulge and found 146 matches; MACHO and OGLE periods are in very good overall agreement. We present summary data for all stars of th…
We present a catalogue of 1768 eclipsing binary stars (EBs) detected in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) by the second generation of the EROS survey (hereinafter EROS-2); 493 of them are new discoveries located in outer regions (out of the central bar) of the LMC. These sources were originally included in a list of candidate classical Cepheids (CCs) extracted from the EROS-2 catalogue on the basis of the period (0.89 $<P_{EROS}<$15.85 days) versus luminosity ($13.39 < \langle B_{EROS}\rangle<17.82$ mag) diagram. After visual inspection of the light curves we reclassified them as eclipsing bina…
We reanalyzed the c-type RR Lyrae star BE Dor (MACHO 5.4644.8, OGLE-LMC-RRLYR-06002) that had been discovered to show cyclic period changes. The photometric data of several sky surveys (DASCH, MACHO, OGLE, ASAS-SN, and TESS) were used for analyses. The O-C diagram and pulsation period obtained from Fourier analysis show significant period modulations in BE Dor. However, different from the previous viewpoint, the changes are quasi-periodic and abrupt. Therefore, the light-travel time effect caused by the companion motion cannot explain the changes. Noting a same subtype star KIC 9453114 with si…
The EPOCH (EROS-2 periodic variable star classification using machine learning) project aims to detect periodic variable stars in the EROS-2 light curve database. In this paper, we present the first result of the classification of periodic variable stars in the EROS-2 LMC database. To classify these variables, we first built a training set by compiling known variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud area from the OGLE and MACHO surveys. We crossmatched these variables with the EROS-2 sources and extracted 22 variability features from 28 392 light curves of the corresponding EROS-2 sources. We th…
The first 100 brightest eclipsing systems from the Small Magellanic Cloud were studied for their period changes. The photometric data from the surveys OGLE-II, OGLE-III, OGLE-IV and MACHO were combined with our new CCD observations obtained using the Danish 1.54-m telescope (La Silla, Chile). Besides the period changes the light curves were also analysed using the program PHOEBE, which provided the physical parameters of both eclipsing components. For 14 of these systems the additional bodies were found, having the orbital periods from 2 to 20 yr and the eccentricities were found to be up to 0…
OGLE-2002-BLG-360 was discovered as a microlensing candidate by the OGLE-III project. The subsequent light curve however clearly showed that the brightening of the object could not have resulted from the gravitational microlensing phenomenon. We aim to explain the nature of OGLE-2002-BLG-360 and its eruption observed in 2002--2006. The observational data primarily come from the archives of the OGLE project, which monitored the object in 2001--2009. The archives of the MACHO and MOA projects also provided us with additional data obtained in 1995--99 and 2000--2005, respectively. These data allo…
Photometric variability of nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet stars in Magellanic Clouds with OGLE
Universidad de Alcalá（阿尔卡拉大学）；Université de Liège（列日大学）；Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA（天体生物学中心，西班牙国家航空航天技术研究所/西班牙国家研究委员会）；Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw（华沙大学天文台）
Symbiotic stars are the longest orbital period interacting binaries, where nova-like outbursts are generated by the accretion of a high mass loss rate red giant wind onto a white dwarf companion. Long-term photometric monitoring surveys such as OGLE and MACHO are ideal platforms to identify nova-like events in symbiotic stars, however there are only a handful of known systems within the small footprint of these surveys. We introduce a systematic Halpha emission line object survey for new symbiotic stars covering 35 deg^2 towards the Galactic Bulge that combines deep 2dF/AAOmega spectroscopy wi…
Aims: New CCD observations for semidetached and detached eclipsing binaries from the Large Magellanic Cloud were carried out using the Danish 1.54-m telescope located at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. The selected systems were monitored for their times of minima, which were required to be able to study the period changes taking place in them. In addition, many new times of minima were derived from the photometric surveys OGLE-II, OGLE-III, and MACHO. Methods: The O-C diagrams of minima timings were analysed using the hypothesis of the light-travel time effect, i.e. assuming the orbital mot…
We present here the first spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the double-lined eclipsing binary containing the classical, first-overtone Cepheid OGLE-LMC-CEP-2532 (MACHO 81.8997.87). The system has an orbital period of 800 days and the Cepheid is pulsating with a period of 2.035 days. Using spectroscopic data from three high-class telescopes and photometry from three surveys spanning 7500 days we are able to derive the dynamical masses for both stars with an accuracy better than 3%. This makes the Cepheid in this system one of a few classical Cepheids with an accurate dynamical mass dete…
A search for variable stars with ultra-low amplitudes (ULA), in the millimag range, has been made in the combined MACHO and OGLE data bases in the broad vicinity of the Cepheid instability strip in the HR diagram. A total of 25 singly periodic and 4 multiply periodic ULA objects has been uncovered. Our analysis does not allow us to distinguish between pulsational and ellipsoidal (binary) variability, nor between LMC and foreground objects. However, the objects are strongly clustered and appear to be associated with the pulsational instability strips of LMC Pop. I and II variables. When combine…
We combine the decade long photometry of the Be/X-ray binary system A0538-66 provided by the MACHO and OGLE IV projects with high resolution SALT spectroscopy to provide detailed constraints on the orbital parameters and system properties. The ~420d superorbital modulation is present throughout, but has reduced in amplitude in recent years. The well-defined 16.6409d orbital outbursts, which were a strong function of superorbital phase in the MACHO data (not occurring at all at superorbital maximum), are present throughout the OGLE IV coverage. However, their amplitude reduces during superorbit…
Cyclic light variations and accretion disk evolution in the LMC eclipsing binary OGLE-LMC-DPV-062
Universidad de Concepción（康塞普西翁大学）；Astronomical Observatory, Volgina 7, 11060 Belgrade 38, Serbia（贝尔格莱德天文台）；Issac Newton Institute of Chile, Yugoslavia Branch（智利艾萨克·牛顿研究所南斯拉夫分部）；Instituto de Física y Astronomía, Universidad de Valparaíso（瓦尔帕莱索大学物理与天文学研究所）；Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma（罗马智慧大学物理系）；Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw（华沙大学天文台）
We present results of period analysis of ASAS, MACHO and OGLE light curves of 79 symbiotic stars classified as S and D'-type. The light curves of 58 objects show variations with the orbital period. In case of 34 objects, orbital periods are estimated for the first time, what increases the number of symbiotic stars with known orbital periods by about 64 %. The light curves of 46 objects show, in addition to the long-term or/and orbital variations, short-term variations with time scales of 50-200 days most likely due to stellar pulsations of the cool giant component. We also report eclipse-like …
In this paper, we report on the detection of RRab stars with quasi-identical-shape light curves but period differences as large as $0.05-0.21$ d using the Galactic bulge data of the OGLE-IV survey. We have examined stars with shorter periods than the Oosterhoff~I ridge of the bulge. These stars generally have smaller amplitudes and larger Fourier phase-differences than the typical bulge RRab stars have at the same period. Many of these "anomalous" stars have good-quality light curves without any sign of the Blazhko modulation. Examining their Fourier parameters revealed that several of these s…
Roughly 30% of variable AGB stars show a Long Secondary Period, or LSP. These LSPs have posed something of a problem in recent years and their cause remains a mystery. By combining VLT-derived velocity curves with MACHO and OGLE light curves we were able to examine many properties of these stars and test the theory that LSPs are caused by binarity. We show why we concluded that the binary model for LSPs is unlikely. Examining mid-infrared SAGE observations for stars with LSPs shows that these stars are surrounded by a significant amount of cool dust in a nonspherical distribution, e.g. a disk …
We have carried out a search for new R Coronae Borealis (RCB) variables using the publicly accessible data from various photometric sky surveys and-whenever available-AAVSO visual data. Candidates were selected from Tisserand`s "Catalogue enriched with R CrB stars" and by a visual inspection of light curves from the ASAS-3, MACHO, NSVS and OGLE surveys. We have identified two new RCB stars, four RCB candidates, and one DY Persei (DYPer) star candidate. Our identification was based mainly on photometric variability, color-color diagrams, and further information drawn from various catalogue sour…
Ellipsoidal red giant binaries are close binary systems where an unseen, relatively close companion distorts the red giant, leading to light variations as the red giant moves around its orbit. These binaries are likely to be the immediate evolutionary precursors of close binary planetary nebula and post-asymptotic giant branch and post-red giant branch stars. Due to the MACHO and OGLE photometric monitoring projects, the light variability nature of these ellipsoidal variables has been well studied. However, due to the lack of radial velocity curves, the nature of their masses, separations, and…
ASAS, MACHO, OGLE and SAAO JHKL light curves of 13 stars, that have at some time been classified as D-type symbiotics, are analysed. Most of the near-IR light-curves that have been monitored over many years show long-term changes due to variable dust obscuration, in addition to the stellar pulsation. The distances to these objects are derived from the period-luminosity relation and estimates of the mass-loss rates made from the Ko-[12] colour. We reclassify AS 245 as an S-type symbiotic, with a semi-regular cool component with a pulsation period of about one year. The periods of the large ampl…
We analyse the results of a 5.5-yr photometric campaign that monitored 247 southern, semi-regular variables with relatively precise Hipparcos parallaxes to demonstrate an unambiguous detection of Red Giant Branch (RGB) pulsations in the solar neighbourhood. We show that Sequence A' contains a mixture of AGB and RGB stars, as indicated by a temperature related shift at the TRGB. Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Galactic sequences are compared in several ways to show that the P-L sequence zero-points have a negligible metallicity dependence. We describe a new method to determine absolute magnitu…
While long period variables (LPVs) have been extensively investigated, especially with MACHO and OGLE data for the Magellanic Clouds, there still exist open questions in their pulsations regarding the excitation mechanisms, radial order and angular degree assignment. Here, we perform asteroseismic analyses on LPVs observed by the 4-year Kepler mission. Using a cross-correlation method, we detect unambiguous pulsation ridges associated with radial fundamental modes ($n=1$) and overtones ($n\geqslant2$), where the radial order assignment is made by using theoretical frequencies and observed freq…
We present a study of a sample of LMC red giants exhibiting Long Secondary Periods (LSPs). We use radial velocities obtained from VLT spectral observations and MACHO and OGLE light curves to examine properties of the stars and to evaluate models for the cause of LSPs. This sample is much larger than the combined previous studies of Hinkle et al. (2002) and Wood, Olivier & Kawaler (2004). Binary and pulsation models have enjoyed much support in recent years. Assuming stellar pulsation, we calculate from the velocity curves that the typical fractional radius change over an LSP cycle is greater t…
We report periods and JHKL observations for 648 oxygen-rich Mira variables found in two outer bulge fields at b=-7 degrees and l=+/-8 degrees and combine these with data on 8057 inner bulge Miras from the OGLE, Macho and 2MASS surveys, which are concentrated closer to the Galactic centre. Distance moduli are estimated for all these stars. Evidence is given showing that the bulge structure is a function of age. The longer period Miras (log P > 2.6, age about 5 Gyr and younger) show clear evidence of a bar structure inclined to the line of sight in both the inner and outer regions. The distribut…
The period-change rate (PCR) of pulsating variable stars is a useful probe of changes in their interior structure, and thus of their evolutionary stages. So far, the PCRs of Classical Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) have been explored in a limited sample of the total population of these variables. Here we use a template-based method to build observed minus computed (O-C) period diagrams, from which we can derive PCRs for these stars by taking advantage of the long time baseline afforded by the Digital Access to a Sky Century @ Harvard (DASCH) light curves, combined with additional…
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile（智利天主教大学）；Harvard University（哈佛大学）；Millenium Institute of Astrophysics（千年天体物理研究所）
In the last years, automatic classification of variable stars has received substantial attention. Using machine learning techniques for this task has proven to be quite useful. Typically, machine learning classifiers used for this task require to have a fixed training set, and the training process is performed offline. Upcoming surveys such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will generate new observations daily, where an automatic classification system able to create alerts online will be mandatory. A system with those characteristics must be able to update itself incrementally. Unf…
