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Creators/Authors contains: "Smith, Verne"

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  1. Open clusters are one of the best astrophysical laboratories we have available for stellar astrophysics studies. This work presents metallicities and individual abundances for 14 M dwarfs and six G dwarfs from two well-known open clusters: Hyades and Coma Berenices. Our analysis is based on near-infrared (1.51–1.69μm), high-resolution (R∼ 22,500) spectra obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) IV/APOGEE Survey. Using one-dimensional, plane-parallel MARCS model atmospheres, the APOGEE line list, and the Turbospectrum radiative transfer code in local thermodynamic equilibrium, we derived spectroscopic stellar parameters for the M dwarfs, along with abundances of 13 elements (C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe) for both M and G dwarfs. We find a high degree of chemical homogeneity within each cluster when comparing abundances derived from M and G dwarfs:δ[M/H] (M dwarfs–G dwarfs) of 0.01 ± 0.04, and 0.02 ± 0.03 for the Hyades and Coma Berenices, respectively. The overall cluster metallicities derived from M dwarfs (Hyades: 0.16 ± 0.03 and Coma Berenices: 0.02 ± 0.06) are consistent with previous literature determinations. Finally, we demonstrate the value of M dwarfs as key tracers in Galactic archeology, emphasizing their potential for studying Galactic metallicity gradients and chemical evolution. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 7, 2026
  2. Context.Bulge globular clusters (BGCs) are exceptional tracers of the formation and chemodynamical evolution of this oldest Galactic component. Until now, observational difficulties have prevented us from taking full advantage of these powerful Galactic archeological tools. Aims.The bulge Cluster APOgee Survey (CAPOS) addresses this key topic by observing a large number of BGCs, most of which have been poorly studied until now. We aim to obtain accurate mean values for metallicity, [α/Fe], and radial velocity, as well as abundances for eleven other elements. Here, we present final parameters based on the APOGEE Stellar Parameter and Chemical Abundances Pipeline (ASPCAP) for all 18 CAPOS BGCs. Methods.We used atmospheric parameters, abundances, and velocities from ASPCAP in DR17. Results.First, we carried out a stringent selection of cluster members, finding a total of 303 with a spectral signal-to-noise value of S/N>70 and an additional 125 with a lower S/N. We confirmed the result of prior ASPCAP multiple population studies, namely, that stars with high [N/Fe] abundances show higher [Fe/H] than their lower [N/Fe] counterparts. Furthermore, the Mg, Ca, and globalαabundances exhibit similar trends, while Si is well-behaved. The [Fe/H] value of these second-population stars was corrected to derive the mean metallicity. Mean metallicities were determined to a precision of 0.05 dex, [α/Fe] to 0.06 dex, and radial velocity to 3.4 km/s. No clusters displayed any strong evidence of internal metallicity variations, including M22. Abundances for eleven other elements using only first-population stars were calculated. Our values are shown to be in good general agreement with the literature. We developed a new chemodynamical GC classification scheme, synthesizing the results of several recent studies. We also compiled a set of up-to-date metallicities. The BGC metallicity distribution is bimodal, with peaks near [Fe/H] = −0.45, and −1.1, with the metal-poor peak displaying a strong dominance. The entire in situ sample, including disk and BGCs, displays the same bimodality, while ex situ GCs are unimodal, with a peak around −1.6. Surprisingly, we see only a small and statistically insignificant difference in the mean [Si/Fe] of in situ and ex situ GCs. The four GCs with the lowest [Si/Fe] values are all ex situ and relatively young, with three belonging to Sagittarius; no other correlations are evident. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2026
  3. Abstract Stellar magnetic fields have a major impact on space weather around exoplanets orbiting low-mass stars. From an analysis of Zeeman-broadened Feilines measured in near-infrared SDSS/APOGEE spectra, mean magnetic fields are determined for a sample of 29 M dwarf stars that host closely orbiting small exoplanets. The calculations employed the radiative transfer code Synmast and MARCS stellar model atmospheres. The sample M dwarfs are found to have measurable mean magnetic fields ranging between ∼0.2 and ∼1.5 kG, falling in the unsaturated regime on the 〈B〉 versusProtplane. The sample systems contain 43 exoplanets, which include 23 from Kepler, nine from K2, and nine from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. We evaluated their equilibrium temperatures, insolation, and stellar habitable zones and found that only Kepler-186f and TOI-700d are inside the habitable zones of their stars. Using the derived values of 〈B〉 for the stars Kepler-186 and TOI-700 we evaluated the minimum planetary magnetic field that would be necessary to shield the exoplanets Kepler-186f and TOI-700d from their host star’s winds, considering reference magnetospheres with sizes equal to those of the present-day and young Earth, respectively. Assuming a ratio of 5% between large- to small-scaleB-fields, and a young-Earth magnetosphere, Kepler-186f and TOI-700d would need minimum planetary magnetic fields of, respectively, 0.05 and 0.24 G. These values are considerably smaller than Earth’s magnetic field of 0.25 G ≲B≲ 0.65 G, which suggests that these two exoplanets might have magnetic fields sufficiently strong to protect their atmospheres and surfaces from stellar magnetic fields. 
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  4. Abstract Average magnetic field measurements are presented for 62 M-dwarf members of the Pleiades open cluster, derived from Zeeman-enhanced Feilines in theHband. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo methodology was employed to model magnetic filling factors using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) IV APOGEE high-resolution spectra, along with the radiative transfer code Synmast, MARCS stellar atmosphere models, and the APOGEE Data Release 17 spectral line list. There is a positive correlation between mean magnetic fields and stellar rotation, with slow-rotator stars (Rossby number, Ro > 0.13) exhibiting a steeper slope than rapid rotators (Ro < 0.13). However, the latter sample still shows a positive trend between Ro and magnetic fields, which is given by 〈B〉 = 1604 × Ro−0.20. The derived stellar radii when compared with physical isochrones show that, on average, our sample shows radius inflation, with median enhanced radii ranging from +3.0% to +7.0%, depending on the model. There is a positive correlation between magnetic field strength and radius inflation, as well as with stellar spot coverage, correlations which together indicate that stellar spot-filling factors generated by strong magnetic fields might be the mechanism that drives radius inflation in these stars. We also compare our derived magnetic fields with chromospheric emission lines (Hα, Hβ, and CaiiK), as well as with X-ray and Hαto bolometric luminosity ratios, and find that stars with higher chromospheric and coronal activity tend to be more magnetic. 
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  5. ABSTRACT This paper presents chemical abundances of 12 elements (C, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe) for 80 FGK dwarfs in the Pleiades open cluster, which span a temperature range of $$\sim$$2000 K in T$$_{\rm eff}$$, using the high-resolution (R$$\sim$$22 500) near-infrared SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey)-IV/APOGEE (Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment) spectra ($$\lambda$$1.51–1.69 $$\mu$$m). Using a 1D local thermodynamic equilibrium abundance analysis, we determine an overall metallicity of [Fe/H]  = +0.03 $$\pm$$ 0.04 dex, with the elemental ratios [$$\alpha$$/Fe]  = +0.01 $$\pm$$ 0.05, [odd-z/Fe]  = –0.04 $$\pm$$ 0.08, and [iron peak/Fe]  = –0.02 $$\pm$$ 0.08. These abundances for the Pleiades are in line with the abundances of other open clusters at similar galactocentric distances as presented in the literature. Examination of the abundances derived from each individual spectral line revealed that several of the stronger lines displayed trends of decreasing abundance with decreasing $$T_{\rm eff}$$. The list of spectral lines that yield abundances that are independent of $$T_{\rm eff}$$ are presented and used for deriving the final abundances. An investigation into possible causes of the temperature-dependent abundances derived from the stronger lines suggests that the radiative codes and the APOGEE line list we employ may inadequately model van der Waals broadening, in particular in the cooler K dwarfs. 
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  6. Abstract In the third APOKASC catalog, we present data for the complete sample of 15,808 evolved stars with APOGEE spectroscopic parameters and Kepler asteroseismology. We used 10 independent asteroseismic analysis techniques and anchor our system on fundamental radii derived from GaiaLand spectroscopicTeff. We provide evolutionary state, asteroseismic surface gravity, mass, radius, age, and the data used to derive them for 12,418 stars. This includes 10,036 exceptionally precise measurements, with median fractional uncertainties in ν max , Δν, mass, radius, and age of 0.6%, 0.6%, 3.8%, 1.8%, and 11.1%, respectively. We provide more limited data for 1624 additional stars that either have lower-quality data or are outside of our primary calibration domain. Using lower red giant branch (RGB) stars, we find a median age for the chemical thick disk of 9.14 ± 0.05(ran) ± 0.9(sys) Gyr with an age dispersion of 1.1 Gyr, consistent with our error model. We calibrate our red clump (RC) mass loss to derive an age consistent with the lower RGB and provide asymptotic GB and RGB ages for luminous stars. We also find a sharp upper-age boundary in the chemical thin disk. We find that scaling relations are precise and accurate on the lower RGB and RC, but they become more model dependent for more luminous giants and break down at the tip of the RGB. We recommend the use of multiple methods, calibration to a fundamental scale, and the use of stellar models to interpret frequency spacings. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available February 1, 2026
  7. Abstract The physical properties of transiting exoplanets are connected with the physical properties of their host stars. We present a homogeneous spectroscopic analysis based on the spectra of FGK-type stars observed with the Hydra spectrograph on the WIYN telescope. We derived the effective temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities, for 81 stars observed by K2 and 33 by Kepler 1. We constructed an Fe i and ii line list that is adequate for the analysis of R ∼ 18,000 spectra covering 6050–6350 Å and adopted the spectroscopic technique based on equivalent-width measurements. The calculations were done in LTE using Kurucz model atmospheres and the qoyllur-quipu ( q 2 ) package. We validated our methodology via an analysis of a benchmark solar twin and solar proxies, which are used as a solar reference. We estimated the effects that including Zeeman-sensitive Fe i lines have on the derived stellar parameters for young and possibly active stars in our sample and found them not to be significant. Stellar masses and radii were derived by combining the stellar parameters with Gaia EDR3 and V magnitudes and isochrones. The measured stellar radii have a 4.2% median internal precision, leading to a median internal uncertainty of 4.4% in the derived planetary radii. With our sample of 83 confirmed planets orbiting K2 host stars, the radius gap near R planet ∼ 1.9 R ⊕ is detected, in agreement with previous findings. Relations between the planetary radius, orbital period, and metallicity are explored and these also confirm previous findings for Kepler 1 systems. 
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  8. ABSTRACT The centre of the Milky Way contains stellar populations spanning a range in age and metallicity, with a recent star formation burst producing young and massive stars. Chemical abundances in the most luminous stellar member of the nuclear star cluster (NSC), IRS 7, are presented for 19F, 12C, 13C, 14N, 16O, 17O, and Fe from a local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis based on spherical modelling and radiative transfer with a 25-M⊙ model atmosphere, whose chemistry was tailored to the derived photospheric abundances. We find IRS 7 to be depleted heavily in both 12C (∼–0.8 dex) and 16O (∼–0.4 dex), while exhibiting an extremely enhanced 14N abundance (∼+1.1 dex), which are isotopic signatures of the deep mixing of CNO-cycled material to the stellar surface. The 19F abundance is also heavily depleted by ∼1 dex relative to the baseline fluorine of the NSC, providing evidence that fluorine along with carbon constrain the nature of the deep mixing in this very luminous supergiant. The abundances of the minor isotopes 13C and 17O are also derived, with ratios of 12C/13C ∼ 5.3 and 16O/17O ∼ 525. The derived abundances for IRS 7, in conjunction with previous abundance results for massive stars in the NSC, are compared with rotating and non-rotating models of massive stars and it is found that the IRS 7 abundances overall follow the behaviour predicted by stellar models. The depleted fluorine abundance in IRS 7 illustrates, for the first time, the potential of using the 19F abundance as a mixing probe in luminous red giants. 
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  9. Abstract We present a spectroscopic analysis of a sample of 48 M-dwarf stars (0.2 M ⊙ < M < 0.6 M ⊙ ) from the Hyades open cluster using high-resolution H -band spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. Our methodology adopts spectrum synthesis with LTE MARCS model atmospheres, along with the APOGEE Data Release 17 line list, to determine effective temperatures, surface gravities, metallicities, and projected rotational velocities. The median metallicity obtained for the Hyades M dwarfs is [M/H] = 0.09 ± 0.03 dex, indicating a small internal uncertainty and good agreement with optical results for Hyades red giants. Overall, the median radii are larger than predicted by stellar models by 1.6% ± 2.3% and 2.4% ± 2.3%, relative to a MIST and DARTMOUTH isochrone, respectively. We emphasize, however, that these isochrones are different, and the fractional radius inflation for the fully and partially convective regimes have distinct behaviors depending on the isochrone. Using a MIST isochrone there is no evidence of radius inflation for the fully convective stars, while for the partially convective M dwarfs the radii are inflated by 2.7% ± 2.1%, which is in agreement with predictions from models that include magnetic fields. For the partially convective stars, rapid rotators present on average higher inflation levels than slow rotators. The comparison with SPOTS isochrone models indicates that the derived M-dwarf radii can be explained by accounting for stellar spots in the photosphere of the stars, with 76% of the studied M dwarfs having up to 20% spot coverage, and the most inflated stars with ∼20%–40% spot coverage. 
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