A new method to identify subclasses among AGB stars using Gaia and 2MASS photometry

T. Lebzelter*, N. Mowlavi, P. Marigo, G. Pastorelli, M. Trabucchi, P. R. Wood, I. Lecoeur-Taibi

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    46 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Aims. We explore the wealth of high-quality photometric data provided by data release 2 (DR2) of the Gaia mission for long-period variables (LPVs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Our goal is to identify stars of various types and masses along the asymptotic giant branch. Methods. For this endeavour, we developed a new multi-band approach combining Wesenheit functions WRP,BPRP and WKs,JKs in the Gaia BP, RP, and 2MASS J, Ks spectral ranges, respectively, and use a new diagram, (WRP,BP−RP − WKs,JKs) versus Ks, to distinguish between different kinds of stars in our sample of LPVs. We used stellar population synthesis models to validate our approach. Results. We demonstrate the ability of the new diagram to discriminate between O- and C-rich objects, and to identify low-mass, intermediate-mass, and massive O-rich red giants, as well as extreme C-rich stars. Stellar evolution and population synthesis models guide the interpretation of the results, highlighting the diagnostic power of the new tool to discriminate between stellar initial masses, chemical properties, and evolutionary stages.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberL13
    JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics
    Volume616
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

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