Related papers: A comparative analysis of the observed white dwarf…
Using a new grid of models of cooling white dwarfs, we calculate isochrones and luminosity functions in the Johnson-Kron/Cousins and HST filter sets for systems containing old white dwarfs. These new models incorporate a non-grey atmosphere…
We present a statistical approach for estimating the age of Globular Clusters by measurement of the likelihood between the observed cluster sequences in the Colour--Magnitude Diagram and the synthetic cluster sequences computed from stellar…
We summarize recent improvements in model atmosphere and internal structure of faint white dwarfs. We derive an analytical cooling theory which illustrates the effects of various physical processes on the energy budget and the cooling…
The spectroscopic and photometric signals of the star-to-star abundance variations found in globular clusters seem to be correlated with global parameters like the cluster's metallicity, mass and age. Understanding this behaviour could…
We have applied a new method to analyze the horizontal branch (HB) morphology in relation to the distribution of stars near the red giant branch (RGB) tip for the globular clusters M22, M5, M68, M107, M72, M92, M3 and 47 Tuc. This new…
(ABRIDGED) The ACS camera on board the Hubble Space Telescope has been used to obtain deep images of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 3610, a well-established dissipative galaxy merger remnant. These observations supersede previous WFPC2…
The behaviour of the Delta nu =2 CO bands around 2.3 micron was examined by comparing observed and synthetic spectra in stars in globular clusters of different metallicity. Changes in the 12C/13C isotopic ratio and the carbon abundances…
We have previously reported on chemical abundance trends with evolutionary state in the globular cluster NGC 6397 discovered in analyses of spectra taken with FLAMES at the VLT. Here, we reinvestigate the FLAMES-UVES sample of 18 stars,…
We present narrow band photometry of 91 dwarf ellipticals in the Coma and Fornax clusters taken through the Stromgren (uvby) filter system. Dividing the sample by dwarf morphology into nucleated (dEN) and non-nucleated (dE) dwarfs reveals…
We present photometry for the globular cluster NGC 6642 using the F606W and F814W filters with the ACS/WFC third generation camera on board of Hubble Space Telescope. The Colour Magnitude Diagram shows sources reaching ~ 6 mags below the…
Observations of young star clusters reveal that the high-mass end of the cluster initial mass function (CIMF) deviates from a pure power-law and instead truncates exponentially. We investigate the effects of this truncation on the formation…
Using a combination of high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope/WFPC2 observations, we explore the physical properties of the stellar populations in two intermediate-age star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, NGC 1831 and NGC 1868,…
An accurate assessment of white dwarf cooling times is paramount to place white dwarf cosmochronology of Galactic populations on more solid grounds. This issue is particularly relevant in view of the enhanced observational capabilities…
A photometric and spectroscopic analysis of 152 cool white dwarf stars is presented. The discovery of 7 new DA white dwarfs, 2 new DQ white dwarfs, 1 new magnetic white dwarf, and 3 weak magnetic white dwarf candidates, is reported, as well…
We analyse the cooling of white dwarfs in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae to look for evidence of axion emission affecting the rate of white dwarf cooling. If axions exist and couple to electrons, then axions could be produced at an…
We present a comprehensive study of the luminosity function and spatial structure of the globular cluster system of NGC 4472, based on deep wide field Washington CT1 CCD images. The globular cluster luminosity function shows a peak at…
We report on HST/WFPC2 U,V and far-ultraviolet observations of two Galactic Globular Clusters (GGCs), NGC 6205 = M13 and NGC 6093 = M80. Both of these clusters have horizontal-branch (HB) tails that extend to the helium-burning main…
Atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity) and radial velocities are derived for 12 candidate blue horizontal branch (HB) stars in the globular clusters 47 Tuc and NGC 362, which so far have been known to contain…
We present follow-up spectroscopy and a detailed model atmosphere analysis of 29 wide double white dwarfs, including eight systems with a crystallized C/O core member. We use state-of-the-art evolutionary models to constrain the physical…
Context: Mass loss from red giants in old globular clusters affects the horizontal branch (HB) morphology and post-HB stellar evolution including the production of ultraviolet-bright stars, dredge up of nucleosynthesis products and…