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Nós apresentamos ajustes multicromáticos de isócronas ao diagrama cor-magnitude do aglomerado globular NGC 6366, baseados em dados fotométricos que obtivemos com o Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope e de arquivos do Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. Nós corrigimos os dados por avermelhamento diferencial e calculamos a linha de tendência média dos diagramas cor-magnitude. Nós comparamos os dados com modelos de isócronas estelares de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database e PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, ambos com a difusão microscópica começando na sequência principal. Considerando todas as determinações prévias de metalicidade desse aglomerado, nós testamos de metalicidades [Fe 111]=-1.00 até [Fe 111]=-0.50, e idades de 9 a 13 Ganos. Depois de determinar a extinção total para seletiva somente com estrelas pertencentes ao aglomerado, Rv=3.06 + 0.14, nós encontramos os parâmetros para esse aglomerado com sendo avermelhamento E (13 — V)= 0.69 ± 0.02(int) +0.04(ext), módulo de distância (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Idade= 11 ± 1.15 Ganos. Os modelos evolucionários falham em reproduzir a sequência de baixa Tef em diagramas cor-magnitude de multi-bandas, indicando que eles ainda tem uma descrição incompleta. Nós encontramos que as isócronas de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database ajustam melhor o ramo das sub gigantes e baixa sequência principal do que as isócronas de PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. O uso de anãs brancas de aglomerados globulares em vez de anãs brancas do campo no estudo da formação, propriedades físicas e evolução estelar é justificado por vários fatores. Dentre eles o fato de que as anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares velhos são remanescentes das estrelas mais velhas que se formaram durante a formação do halo, ou seja, trazem informação da época em que a Galáxia estava se formando. Utilizamos as tabelas fotométricas de dados obtidos com o HST/ACS por Richer et al. (2008) e Bedin et al. (2009) dos aglomerados globulares NGC 6397 e M 4, respectivamente, que alcançam a volta para o azul da sequência de esfriamento das anãs brancas. Com a análise da sequência de esfriamento desses aglomerados, demonstramos que a cristalização de anãs brancas acontece através da liberação de calor latente. Demonstramos também, pela primeira vez, o problema dos modelos de sequência de esfriamento de anãs brancas na volta para o azul e propormos que uma possível solução é, além de considerar o efeito da absorção induzida por colisão, é também necessário considerar que na atmosfera de anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares há uma mistura de H e He, em vez de uma atmosfera de II puro. / We present multichromatic isochrone fits to the colour-magnitude data of the globular cluster NGC 6366, based on photometric data obtained with Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope and archive data from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. We corrected the photometric data for differential reddening and calculated the mean ridge fine of the colour magnitude diagrams. We compared the isochrones of Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database and PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, both with microscopic diffusion starting on the main sequence. Bracketing all previous determinations of this cluster, we tested metallicities from [FelH]=- 1.00 to [Fe/H]=-0.50, and ages from 9 to 13 Gyrs. After determining the total to selective extinction ratio only from stars belonging to this cluster, obtaining Rv=3.06 + 0.14, we found the parameters for this cluster to be reddening E(B — V)=0.69 ± 0.02(int) ±0.04(ext), distance modulus (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Age= 11 ± 1.15 Gyr. Evolutionary models fail to reproduce the low-T eff main sequence in multi-band colour magnitude diagrams, indicating that they still have an incomplete physical description. We found that the Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database isochrones fit better the sub giant branch and low main sequence than the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. The use of white dwarf stars from globular clusters instead of field white dwarf stars in the study of formation, physical properties and stellar evolution is justified by several factors. Among them is the fact that the coolest white dwarf stars in old globular clusters are remnants of the oldest stars that formed during the formation of the Galactic halo, i. e., bring us information about the time that the Galaxy was still forming. We use the photometric data obtained with the HST/ACS by Richer et al. (2008) and Bedin et al. (2009) of the globular clusters NGC 6397 and M 4, respectively, that reach the blue turn of the white dwarf cooling sequence.With the analysis of the cooling sequence of these clusters, we demonstrated that the crystallization of white dwarfs occurs with the release of latent heat. Also, we demonstrate, for the first time, the problem of the blue turn in the white dwarf cooling sequence and propose that a possible solution is, in addition to considering the effect of collision-induced absorption, it is necessary to consider that the atmosphere of cooler white dwarf stars is composed by a mixture of H and He, rather than an atmosphere of pure H.

Nós apresentamos ajustes multicromáticos de isócronas ao diagrama cor-magnitude do aglomerado globular NGC 6366, baseados em dados fotométricos que obtivemos com o Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope e de arquivos do Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. Nós corrigimos os dados por avermelhamento diferencial e calculamos a linha de tendência média dos diagramas cor-magnitude. Nós comparamos os dados com modelos de isócronas estelares de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database e PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, ambos com a difusão microscópica começando na sequência principal. Considerando todas as determinações prévias de metalicidade desse aglomerado, nós testamos de metalicidades [Fe 111]=-1.00 até [Fe 111]=-0.50, e idades de 9 a 13 Ganos. Depois de determinar a extinção total para seletiva somente com estrelas pertencentes ao aglomerado, Rv=3.06 + 0.14, nós encontramos os parâmetros para esse aglomerado com sendo avermelhamento E (13 — V)= 0.69 ± 0.02(int) +0.04(ext), módulo de distância (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Idade= 11 ± 1.15 Ganos. Os modelos evolucionários falham em reproduzir a sequência de baixa Tef em diagramas cor-magnitude de multi-bandas, indicando que eles ainda tem uma descrição incompleta. Nós encontramos que as isócronas de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database ajustam melhor o ramo das sub gigantes e baixa sequência principal do que as isócronas de PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. O uso de anãs brancas de aglomerados globulares em vez de anãs brancas do campo no estudo da formação, propriedades físicas e evolução estelar é justificado por vários fatores. Dentre eles o fato de que as anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares velhos são remanescentes das estrelas mais velhas que se formaram durante a formação do halo, ou seja, trazem informação da época em que a Galáxia estava se formando. Utilizamos as tabelas fotométricas de dados obtidos com o HST/ACS por Richer et al. (2008) e Bedin et al. (2009) dos aglomerados globulares NGC 6397 e M 4, respectivamente, que alcançam a volta para o azul da sequência de esfriamento das anãs brancas. Com a análise da sequência de esfriamento desses aglomerados, demonstramos que a cristalização de anãs brancas acontece através da liberação de calor latente. Demonstramos também, pela primeira vez, o problema dos modelos de sequência de esfriamento de anãs brancas na volta para o azul e propormos que uma possível solução é, além de considerar o efeito da absorção induzida por colisão, é também necessário considerar que na atmosfera de anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares há uma mistura de H e He, em vez de uma atmosfera de II puro. / We present multichromatic isochrone fits to the colour-magnitude data of the globular cluster NGC 6366, based on photometric data obtained with Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope and archive data from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. We corrected the photometric data for differential reddening and calculated the mean ridge fine of the colour magnitude diagrams. We compared the isochrones of Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database and PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, both with microscopic diffusion starting on the main sequence. Bracketing all previous determinations of this cluster, we tested metallicities from [FelH]=- 1.00 to [Fe/H]=-0.50, and ages from 9 to 13 Gyrs. After determining the total to selective extinction ratio only from stars belonging to this cluster, obtaining Rv=3.06 + 0.14, we found the parameters for this cluster to be reddening E(B — V)=0.69 ± 0.02(int) ±0.04(ext), distance modulus (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Age= 11 ± 1.15 Gyr. Evolutionary models fail to reproduce the low-T eff main sequence in multi-band colour magnitude diagrams, indicating that they still have an incomplete physical description. We found that the Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database isochrones fit better the sub giant branch and low main sequence than the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. The use of white dwarf stars from globular clusters instead of field white dwarf stars in the study of formation, physical properties and stellar evolution is justified by several factors. Among them is the fact that the coolest white dwarf stars in old globular clusters are remnants of the oldest stars that formed during the formation of the Galactic halo, i. e., bring us information about the time that the Galaxy was still forming. We use the photometric data obtained with the HST/ACS by Richer et al. (2008) and Bedin et al. (2009) of the globular clusters NGC 6397 and M 4, respectively, that reach the blue turn of the white dwarf cooling sequence.With the analysis of the cooling sequence of these clusters, we demonstrated that the crystallization of white dwarfs occurs with the release of latent heat. Also, we demonstrate, for the first time, the problem of the blue turn in the white dwarf cooling sequence and propose that a possible solution is, in addition to considering the effect of collision-induced absorption, it is necessary to consider that the atmosphere of cooler white dwarf stars is composed by a mixture of H and He, rather than an atmosphere of pure H.

Nós apresentamos ajustes multicromáticos de isócronas ao diagrama cor-magnitude do aglomerado globular NGC 6366, baseados em dados fotométricos que obtivemos com o Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope e de arquivos do Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. Nós corrigimos os dados por avermelhamento diferencial e calculamos a linha de tendência média dos diagramas cor-magnitude. Nós comparamos os dados com modelos de isócronas estelares de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database e PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, ambos com a difusão microscópica começando na sequência principal. Considerando todas as determinações prévias de metalicidade desse aglomerado, nós testamos de metalicidades [Fe 111]=-1.00 até [Fe 111]=-0.50, e idades de 9 a 13 Ganos. Depois de determinar a extinção total para seletiva somente com estrelas pertencentes ao aglomerado, Rv=3.06 + 0.14, nós encontramos os parâmetros para esse aglomerado com sendo avermelhamento E (13 — V)= 0.69 ± 0.02(int) +0.04(ext), módulo de distância (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Idade= 11 ± 1.15 Ganos. Os modelos evolucionários falham em reproduzir a sequência de baixa Tef em diagramas cor-magnitude de multi-bandas, indicando que eles ainda tem uma descrição incompleta. Nós encontramos que as isócronas de Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database ajustam melhor o ramo das sub gigantes e baixa sequência principal do que as isócronas de PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. O uso de anãs brancas de aglomerados globulares em vez de anãs brancas do campo no estudo da formação, propriedades físicas e evolução estelar é justificado por vários fatores. Dentre eles o fato de que as anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares velhos são remanescentes das estrelas mais velhas que se formaram durante a formação do halo, ou seja, trazem informação da época em que a Galáxia estava se formando. Utilizamos as tabelas fotométricas de dados obtidos com o HST/ACS por Richer et al. (2008) e Bedin et al. (2009) dos aglomerados globulares NGC 6397 e M 4, respectivamente, que alcançam a volta para o azul da sequência de esfriamento das anãs brancas. Com a análise da sequência de esfriamento desses aglomerados, demonstramos que a cristalização de anãs brancas acontece através da liberação de calor latente. Demonstramos também, pela primeira vez, o problema dos modelos de sequência de esfriamento de anãs brancas na volta para o azul e propormos que uma possível solução é, além de considerar o efeito da absorção induzida por colisão, é também necessário considerar que na atmosfera de anãs brancas mais frias de aglomerados globulares há uma mistura de H e He, em vez de uma atmosfera de II puro. / We present multichromatic isochrone fits to the colour-magnitude data of the globular cluster NGC 6366, based on photometric data obtained with Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope and archive data from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC. We corrected the photometric data for differential reddening and calculated the mean ridge fine of the colour magnitude diagrams. We compared the isochrones of Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database and PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code, both with microscopic diffusion starting on the main sequence. Bracketing all previous determinations of this cluster, we tested metallicities from [FelH]=- 1.00 to [Fe/H]=-0.50, and ages from 9 to 13 Gyrs. After determining the total to selective extinction ratio only from stars belonging to this cluster, obtaining Rv=3.06 + 0.14, we found the parameters for this cluster to be reddening E(B — V)=0.69 ± 0.02(int) ±0.04(ext), distance modulus (m — M)v= 15.02 ± 0.07(int) ±0.13(ext), Age= 11 ± 1.15 Gyr. Evolutionary models fail to reproduce the low-T eff main sequence in multi-band colour magnitude diagrams, indicating that they still have an incomplete physical description. We found that the Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Database isochrones fit better the sub giant branch and low main sequence than the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code. The use of white dwarf stars from globular clusters instead of field white dwarf stars in the study of formation, physical properties and stellar evolution is justified by several factors. Among them is the fact that the coolest white dwarf stars in old globular clusters are remnants of the oldest stars that formed during the formation of the Galactic halo, i. e., bring us information about the time that the Galaxy was still forming. We use the photometric data obtained with the HST/ACS by Richer et al. (2008) and Bedin et al. (2009) of the globular clusters NGC 6397 and M 4, respectively, that reach the blue turn of the white dwarf cooling sequence.With the analysis of the cooling sequence of these clusters, we demonstrated that the crystallization of white dwarfs occurs with the release of latent heat. Also, we demonstrate, for the first time, the problem of the blue turn in the white dwarf cooling sequence and propose that a possible solution is, in addition to considering the effect of collision-induced absorption, it is necessary to consider that the atmosphere of cooler white dwarf stars is composed by a mixture of H and He, rather than an atmosphere of pure H.

The theory of stellar evolution and stellar structure relies on the observation of stars in di erent phases of their evolutionary cycle. The relation between observations and theory can be strengthened by obtaining observational data of a large sample of stars in a particular evolutionary phase. The search for Cephei stars, as conducted in this study, can contribute to the sample of known Cephei stars, where these interesting stars are massive non-supergiant early B-type stars, displaying pulsating behaviour which is not well understood. Stars tend to form in clusters where it can therefore be expected that young massive stars can be found in open clusters. For this reason two young southern open clusters were observed in order to search for B-type pulsating stars. The region of NGC 6204 and Hogg 22 was observed over a period of thirteen nights in Johnson B, V and I bands. NGC 6204 is believed to be the oldest cluster of the two at a distance of 0.8 kpc while the much younger Hogg 22 is more distant at 2.8 kpc. These two open clusters are located 6 arcminutes apart which made it possible to observe them simultaneously with a 12.8 12.8 arcminute eld of view. The observations were done with the newly installed 1600 telescope of the North-West University, South Africa. In order to do a variability search, periodic stars need to be identi ed from the cluster data, where a typical data set may contain thousands of scienti c images. In addition to the main motivation for this study, a pipeline was created in order to automate the photometry and data reduction processes. A Lomb-Scargle transform was applied to the stellar light curves in order to identify periodic sources. 354 signi cantly periodic stars were identi ed from the 3182 observed stars. Amongst them, two new possible Cephei stars were found together with a possible slowly pulsating B star (SPB), and numerous eclipsing binary systems. By using photometry of this region obtained by Forbes & Short (1996), instrumental magnitudes were transformed to a standard system in order to compare photometry results. From the constructed colour magnitude diagram of the two clusters, it could be seen that some stars, indicated by Forbes & Short (1996) to be cluster members, were in fact eld stars belonging to neither cluster. The reduction and photometry pipeline was implemented successfully on the data set, which also highlighted the importance of instrumentation and correct data analysis procedures. Possible improvements were identi ed in order to overcome di culties experienced during this study. / Thesis (MSc (Space Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The theory of stellar evolution and stellar structure relies on the observation of stars in di erent phases of their evolutionary cycle. The relation between observations and theory can be strengthened by obtaining observational data of a large sample of stars in a particular evolutionary phase. The search for Cephei stars, as conducted in this study, can contribute to the sample of known Cephei stars, where these interesting stars are massive non-supergiant early B-type stars, displaying pulsating behaviour which is not well understood. Stars tend to form in clusters where it can therefore be expected that young massive stars can be found in open clusters. For this reason two young southern open clusters were observed in order to search for B-type pulsating stars. The region of NGC 6204 and Hogg 22 was observed over a period of thirteen nights in Johnson B, V and I bands. NGC 6204 is believed to be the oldest cluster of the two at a distance of 0.8 kpc while the much younger Hogg 22 is more distant at 2.8 kpc. These two open clusters are located 6 arcminutes apart which made it possible to observe them simultaneously with a 12.8 12.8 arcminute eld of view. The observations were done with the newly installed 1600 telescope of the North-West University, South Africa. In order to do a variability search, periodic stars need to be identi ed from the cluster data, where a typical data set may contain thousands of scienti c images. In addition to the main motivation for this study, a pipeline was created in order to automate the photometry and data reduction processes. A Lomb-Scargle transform was applied to the stellar light curves in order to identify periodic sources. 354 signi cantly periodic stars were identi ed from the 3182 observed stars. Amongst them, two new possible Cephei stars were found together with a possible slowly pulsating B star (SPB), and numerous eclipsing binary systems. By using photometry of this region obtained by Forbes & Short (1996), instrumental magnitudes were transformed to a standard system in order to compare photometry results. From the constructed colour magnitude diagram of the two clusters, it could be seen that some stars, indicated by Forbes & Short (1996) to be cluster members, were in fact eld stars belonging to neither cluster. The reduction and photometry pipeline was implemented successfully on the data set, which also highlighted the importance of instrumentation and correct data analysis procedures. Possible improvements were identi ed in order to overcome di culties experienced during this study. / Thesis (MSc (Space Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013