Samyaday Choudhury - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Samyaday Choudhury

The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) consist of a pair of galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and t... more The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) consist of a pair of galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which are located at a distance of ∼ 50 kpc and 60 kpc, with stellar masses of ∼ 10 M and 10 9 M , respectively. Morphologically they are categorized as irregular type galaxies. The MCs are gas rich and metal poor (Z=0.008 for LMC, and 0.004 for SMC) as compared to the Milky Way (MW), and have active star-forming regions. Their proximity and location at high galactic latitude enable us to resolve their individual populations as well as detect faint stellar populations. It is well known that the MCs are interacting with each other, as well as with the MW. The interaction is supported by the presence of the Magellanic Bridge and the Magellanic Stream. The evolved stellar populations in the MCs help us to understand their evolution and interaction process. The MCs host both Population I as well as Population II stars. This extended range of star formation is...

arXiv (Cornell University), Oct 11, 2022

We present the first comprehensive study of the most massive globular cluster Omega Centauri in t... more We present the first comprehensive study of the most massive globular cluster Omega Centauri in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) extending from the center to ∼ 28% of the tidal radius using the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope aboard AstroSat. A comparison of the FUV-optical color-magnitude diagrams with available canonical models reveals that the horizontal branch (HB) stars bluer than the knee (hHBs) and the white dwarfs (WDs) are fainter in the FUV by ∼ 0.5 mag than model predictions. They are also fainter than their counterparts in M13, another massive cluster. We simulated HB with at least five subpopulations including three He-rich populations with a substantial He enrichment of Y up to 0.43 dex, to reproduce the observed FUV distribution. We find the He-rich younger subpopulations to be radially more segregated than the He-normal older ones, suggesting an in-situ enrichment from older generations. The ω Cen hHBs span the same T eff range as their M13 counterparts, but some

The Astrophysical Journal Letters

We present the first comprehensive study of the most massive globular cluster, Omega Centauri, in... more We present the first comprehensive study of the most massive globular cluster, Omega Centauri, in the far-ultraviolet (FUV), extending from the center to ∼28% of the tidal radius using the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on board AstroSat. A comparison of the FUV-optical color–magnitude diagrams with available canonical models reveals that horizontal branch (HB) stars bluer than the knee (hHBs) and the white dwarfs (WDs) are fainter in the FUV by ∼0.5 mag than model predictions. They are also fainter than their counterparts in M13, another massive cluster. We simulated HB with at least five subpopulations, including three He-rich populations with a substantial He enrichment of Y up to 0.43 dex, to reproduce the observed FUV distribution. We find the He-rich younger subpopulations to be radially more segregated than the He-normal older ones, suggesting an in situ enrichment from older generations. The ω Cen hHBs span the same T eff range as their M13 counterparts, but some have smaller...

We present the first results of eight Globular Clusters (GCs) from the AstroSat/UVIT Legacy Surve... more We present the first results of eight Globular Clusters (GCs) from the AstroSat/UVIT Legacy Survey program GlobULeS based on the observations carried out in two FUV filters (F148W and F169M). The FUV-optical and FUV-FUV color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of GCs with the proper motion membership were constructed by combining the UVIT data with HST UV Globular Cluster Survey (HUGS) data for inner regions and Gaia Early Data Release (EDR3) for regions outside the HST's field. We detect sources as faint as F148W ∼ 23.5 mag which are classified based on their locations in CMDs by overlaying stellar evolutionary models. The CMDs of 8 GCs are combined with the previous UVIT studies of 3 GCs to create stacked FUV-optical CMDs to highlight the features/peculiarities found in the different evolutionary sequences. The FUV (F148W) detected stellar populations of 11 GCs comprises 2,816 Horizontal Branch (HB) stars (190 Extreme HB candidates), 46 post-HB (pHB), 221 Blue Straggler Stars (BSS), and 107 White Dwarf (WD) candidates. We note that the blue HB color extension obtained from F148W−G color and the number of FUV detected EHB candidates are strongly correlated with the maximum internal Helium (He) variation within each GC, suggesting that FUV-optical plane is the most sensitive to He abundance variations in the HB. We discuss the potential science cases that will be addressed using these catalogues including HB morphologies, BSSs, pHB, and, WD stars.

Astronomical Society of India Conference Series, 2013

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2022

We perform a statistical clustering analysis of upper main-sequence stars in the Large Magellanic... more We perform a statistical clustering analysis of upper main-sequence stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using data from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy survey of the Magellanic Clouds. We map over 2500 young stellar structures at 15 significance levels across ∼120 square degrees centred on the LMC. The structures have sizes ranging from a few parsecs to over 1 kpc. We find that the young structures follow power-law size and mass distributions. From the perimeter–area relation, we derive a perimeter–area dimension of 1.44 ± 0.20. From the mass–size relation and the size distribution, we derive two-dimensional fractal dimensions of 1.50 ± 0.10 and 1.61 ± 0.20, respectively. We find that the surface density distribution is well-represented by a lognormal distribution. We apply the Larson relation to estimate the velocity dispersions and crossing times of these structures. Our results indicate that the fractal nature of the young stellar structures has been...

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2021

We have derived high-spatial-resolution metallicity maps covering ∼105 deg2 across the Large Mage... more We have derived high-spatial-resolution metallicity maps covering ∼105 deg2 across the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using near-infrared passbands from the VISTA Survey of the Magellanic Clouds. We attempt to understand the metallicity distribution and gradients of the LMC up to a radius of ∼6 kpc. We identify red giant branch (RGB) stars in spatially distinct Y, (Y − Ks) colour–magnitude diagrams. In any of our selected subregions, the RGB slope is used as an indicator of the average metallicity, based on calibration to metallicity using spectroscopic data. The mean LMC metallicity is [Fe/H] = −0.42 dex (σ[Fe/H] = 0.04 dex). We find the bar to be mildly metal-rich compared with the outer disc, showing evidence of a shallow gradient in metallicity (−0.008 ± 0.001 dex kpc−1) from the galaxy’s centre to a radius of 6 kpc. Our results suggest that the LMC’s stellar bar is chemically similar to the bars found in large spiral galaxies. The LMC’s radial metallicity gradient is asymmetric. ...

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2020

We have derived high-spatial-resolution metallicity maps covering ∼42 deg2 across the Small Magel... more We have derived high-spatial-resolution metallicity maps covering ∼42 deg2 across the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) in an attempt to understand its metallicity distribution and gradients up to a radius of ∼4○. Using the near-infrared VISTA Survey of the Magellanic Clouds, our data cover a thrice larger area compared with previous studies. We identify red giant branch (RGB) stars in spatially distinct Y, (Y − Ks) colour–magnitude diagrams. In any of our selected subregions, the RGB slope is used as an indicator of the average metallicity, based on calibration to metallicity using spectroscopic data. The metallicity distribution across the SMC is unimodal and can be fitted by a Gaussian distribution with a peak at [Fe/H] = −0.97 dex (σ[Fe/H] = 0.05 dex). We find evidence of a shallow gradient in metallicity (−0.031 ± 0.005 dex deg−1) from the Galactic Centre to radii of 2○–2${_{.}^{\circ}}$5, followed by a flat metallicity trend from ∼3${_{.}^{\circ}}$5 to 4○. We find that the SMC’s me...

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2019

We present the results of the light curve model fitting technique applied to optical and near-inf... more We present the results of the light curve model fitting technique applied to optical and near-infrared photometric data for a sample of 18 Classical Cepheids (11 fundamentals and 7 first overtones) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We use optical photometry from the OGLE III data base and near-infrared photometry obtained by the European Southern Observatory public survey ‘VISTA near-infrared survey of the Magellanic Clouds system’. Iso-periodic non-linear convective model sequences have been computed for each selected Cepheid in order to reproduce the multifilter light-curve amplitudes and shape details. The inferred individual distances provide an intrinsic weighted mean value for the LMC distance modulus of μ0 = 18.56 mag with a standard deviation of 0.13 mag. We derive also the Period–Radius, the Period–Luminosity, and the Period–Wesenheit relations that are consistent with similar relations in the literature. The intrinsic masses and luminosities of the best-fitting models s...

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2018

We have created an estimated metallicity map of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using the Magell... more We have created an estimated metallicity map of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using the Magellanic Cloud Photometric Survey (MCPS) and Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE III) photometric data. This is a first of its kind map of metallicity up to a radius of ∼2.5 •. We identify the Red Giant Branch (RGB) in the V, (V − I) colour-magnitude diagrams of small sub-regions of varying sizes in both data sets. We use the slope of the RGB as an indicator of the average metallicity of a sub-region and calibrate the RGB slope to metallicity using available spectroscopic data for selected sub-regions. The average metallicity of the SMC is found to be [Fe/H] = −0.94 dex (σ [Fe/H] = 0.09) from OGLE III and [Fe/H] = −0.95 dex (σ [Fe/H] = 0.08) from MCPS. We confirm a shallow but significant metallicity gradient within the inner SMC up to a radius of 2.5 • (−0.045 ± 0.004 to −0.067 ± 0.006 dex deg −1).

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2015

We have estimated a metallicity map of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using the Magellanic Clou... more We have estimated a metallicity map of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using the Magellanic Cloud Photometric Survey (MCPS) and Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE III) photometric data. This is a first of its kind map of metallicity up to a radius of 4 •-5 • , derived using photometric data and calibrated using spectroscopic data of Red Giant Branch (RGB) stars. We identify the RGB in the V, (V − I) colour-magnitude diagrams of small subregions of varying sizes in both data sets. We use the slope of the RGB as an indicator of the average metallicity of a subregion, and calibrate the RGB slope to metallicity using spectroscopic data for field and cluster red giants in selected subregions. The average metallicity of the LMC is found to be [Fe/H] = −0.37 dex (σ [Fe/H] = 0.12) from MCPS data, and [Fe/H] = −0.39 dex (σ [Fe/H] = 0.10) from OGLE III data. The bar is found to be the most metal-rich region of the LMC. Both the data sets suggest a shallow radial metallicity gradient up to a radius of 4 kpc (−0.049 ± 0.002 dex kpc −1 to −0.066 ± 0.006 dex kpc −1). Subregions in which the mean metallicity differs from the surrounding areas do not appear to correlate with previously known features; spectroscopic studies are required in order to assess their physical significance.

Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences, 2017

We present extra-tidal features of spatial configuration of stars around three metal-poor globula... more We present extra-tidal features of spatial configuration of stars around three metal-poor globular clusters (NGC 6266, NGC 6273, NGC 6681) located in the Galactic bulge. The wide-field photometric data were obtained in BVI bands with the MOSAIC II camera at CTIO 4 m Blanco telescope. The derived color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) contain stars in a total 71´×71´area including a cluster and its surrounding field outside of the tidal radius of the cluster. Applying statistical filtering technique, we minimized the field star contaminations on the obtained cluster CMDs and extracted the cluster members. On the spatial stellar density maps around the target clusters, we found overdensity features beyond the tidal radii of the clusters. We also found that the radial density profiles of the clusters show departures from the best-fit King model for their outer regions which support the overdensity patterns.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2016

We have introduced a semi-automated quantitative method to estimate the age and reddening of 1072... more We have introduced a semi-automated quantitative method to estimate the age and reddening of 1072 star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) III survey data. This study brings out 308 newly parameterised clusters. In a first of its kind, the LMC clusters are classified into groups based on richness/mass as very poor, poor, moderate and rich clusters, similar to the classification scheme of open clusters in the Galaxy. A major cluster formation episode is found to happen at 125±25 Myr in the inner LMC. The bar region of the LMC appears prominently in the age range 60-250 Myr and is found to have a relatively higher concentration of poor and moderate clusters. The eastern and the western ends of the bar are found to form clusters initially, which later propagates to the central part. We demonstrate that there is a significant difference in the distribution of clusters as a function of mass, using a movie based on the propagation (in space and time) of cluster formation in various groups. The importance of including the low mass clusters in the cluster formation history is demonstrated. The catalog with parameters, classification, and cleaned and isochrone fitted CMDs of 1072 clusters, which are available as online material, can be further used to understand the hierarchical formation of clusters in selected regions of the LMC.

We present results obtained from CCD CT 1 Washington photometry of stars in the field of 44 mostl... more We present results obtained from CCD CT 1 Washington photometry of stars in the field of 44 mostly unstudied Large Magel-lanic Cloud (LMC) clusters. We estimate cluster radii, reddenings and ages. The resulting ages are in the range log(t)=8.0-9.0, with some few exceptions. We also confirm that some studied objects are not genuine star clusters, but asterims. Finally, we group the studied object sample into two sub groups, namely: i) true clusters; ii) possible clusters and asterisms.

The Astronomical Journal, 2015

We present deep Washington photometry of 45 poorly populated star cluster candidates in the Large... more We present deep Washington photometry of 45 poorly populated star cluster candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We have performed a systematic study to estimate the parameters of the cluster candidates by matching theoretical isochrones to the cleaned and de-reddened cluster color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). We were able to estimate the basic parameters for 33 clusters, out of which, 23 are identified as single clusters and 10 are found to be members of double clusters. Other 12 cluster candidates have been classified as possible clusters/asterisms. About 50% of the true clusters are in the 100-300 Myr age range, while some are older or younger. We have discussed the distribution of age, location, reddening with respect to field as well as size of true clusters. The sizes and masses of the studied sample are found to be similar to that of open clusters in the Milky Way. Our study adds to the lower end of cluster mass distribution in the LMC, suggesting that the LMC apart from hosting rich clusters also has formed small, less massive open clusters in the 100-300 Myr age range.