Browsing by Author "Rojas-Arriagada, A."

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    CAPOS: The bulge Cluster APOgee Survey. I. Overview and initial ASPCAP results
    (2021) Geisler, D.; Villanova, S.; O'Connell, J. E.; Cohen, R. E.; Moni Bidin, C.; Fernández-Trincado, J. G.; Muñoz, C.; Minniti, D.; Zoccali, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Contreras Ramos, R.; Catelan, Márcio; Mauro, F.; Cortés, C.; Ferreira Lopes, C. E.; Arentsen, A.; Starkenburg, E.; Martin, N. F.; Tang, B.; Parisi, C.; Alonso-García, J.; Gran, F.; Cunha, K.; Smith, V.; Majewski, S. R.; Jönsson, H.; García-Hernández, D. A.; Horta, D.; Mészáros, S.; Monaco, L.; Monachesi, A.; Muñoz, R. R.; Brownstein, J.; Beers, T. C.; Lane, R. R.; Barbuy, B.; Sobeck, J.; Henao, L.; González-Díaz, D.; Miranda, R. E.; Reinarz, Y.; Santander, T. A.
    Context. Bulge globular clusters (BGCs) are exceptional tracers of the formation and chemodynamical evolution of this oldest Galactic component. However, until now, observational difficulties have prevented us from taking full advantage of these powerful Galactic archeological tools. Aims: CAPOS, the bulge Cluster APOgee Survey, addresses this key topic by observing a large number of BGCs, most of which have only been poorly studied previously. Even their most basic parameters, such as metallicity, [α/Fe], and radial velocity, are generally very uncertain. We aim to obtain accurate mean values for these parameters, as well as abundances for a number of other elements, and explore multiple populations. In this first paper, we describe the CAPOS project and present initial results for seven BGCs. Methods: CAPOS uses the APOGEE-2S spectrograph observing in the H band to penetrate obscuring dust toward the bulge. For this initial paper, we use abundances derived from ASPCAP, the APOGEE pipeline. Results: We derive mean [Fe/H] values of −0.85 ± 0.04 (Terzan 2), −1.40 ± 0.05 (Terzan 4), −1.20 ± 0.10 (HP 1), −1.40 ± 0.07 (Terzan 9), −1.07 ± 0.09 (Djorg 2), −1.06 ± 0.06 (NGC 6540), and −1.11 ± 0.04 (NGC 6642) from three to ten stars per cluster. We determine mean abundances for eleven other elements plus the mean [α/Fe] and radial velocity. CAPOS clusters significantly increase the sample of well-studied Main Bulge globular clusters (GCs) and also extend them to lower metallicity. We reinforce the finding that Main Bulge and Main Disk GCs, formed in situ, have [Si/Fe] abundances slightly higher than their accreted counterparts at the same metallicity. We investigate multiple populations and find our clusters generally follow the light-element (anti)correlation trends of previous studies of GCs of similar metallicity. We finally explore the abundances of the iron-peak elements Mn and Ni and compare their trends with field populations. Conclusions: CAPOS is proving to be an unprecedented resource for greatly improving our knowledge of the formation and evolution of BGCs and the bulge itself....
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    Comparing bulge RR Lyrae stars with bulge giants: Insight from 3D kinematics
    (2024) Carvajal, J. Olivares; Zoccali, M.; De Leo, M.; Ramos, R. Contreras; Quezada, C.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Valenti, E.; Albarracin, R.; Navarro, A. Valenzuela
    Context. The structure and kinematics of the old component of the Galactic bulge are still a matter of debate. It is clear that the bulk of the bulge as traced by red clump stars includes two main components, which are usually identified as the metal-rich and metal-poor components. They have different shapes, kinematics, mean metallicities, and alpha-element abundances. It is our current understanding that they are associated with a bar and a spheroid, respectively. On the other hand, RR Lyrae variables trace the oldest population of the bulge. While it would be natural to think that they follow the structure and kinematics of the metal-poor component, the data analysed in the literature show conflicting results. Aims. We aim to derive a rotation curve for bulge RR Lyrae stars in order to determine that the old component traced by these stars is distinct from the two main components observed in the Galactic bulge. Methods. This paper combines APOGEE-2S spectra with OGLE-IV light curves, near-infrared photometry, and proper motions from the VISTA Variables in the V & iacute;a L & aacute;ctea survey for 4193 RR Lyrae stars. Six-dimensional phase-space coordinates were used to calculate orbits within an updated Galactic potential and to isolate the stars. Results. The stars that stay confined within the bulge represent 57% of our sample. Our results show that bulge RR Lyrae variables rotate more slowly than metal-rich red clump stars and have a lower velocity dispersion. Their kinematics is compatible with them being the low-metallicity tail of the metal-poor component. We confirm that a rather large fraction of halo and thick disc RR Lyrae stars pass by the bulge within their orbits, increasing the velocity dispersion. A proper orbital analysis is therefore critical to isolate bona fide bulge variables. Finally, bulge RR Lyrae seem to trace a spheroidal component, although the current data do now allow us to reach a firm conclusion about the spatial distribution.
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    H-band discovery of additional second-generation stars in the Galactic bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 as observed by APOGEE and Gaia
    (2019) Fernandez-Trincado, J. G.; Zamora, O.; Souto, Diogo; Cohen, R. E.; Agli, F. Dell; Garcia-Hernandez, D. A.; Masseron, T.; Schiavon, R. P.; Meszaros, Sz; Cunha, K.; Hasselquist, S.; Shetrone, M.; Schiappacasse Ulloa, J.; Tang, B.; Geisler, D.; Schleicher, D. R. G.; Villanova, S.; Mennickent, R. E.; Minniti, D.; Alonso-Garcia, J.; Manchado, A.; Beers, T. C.; Sobeck, J.; Zasowski, G.; Schultheis, M.; Majewski, S. R.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Almeida, A.; Santana, F.; Oelkers, R. J.; Longa-Pena, P.; Carrera, R.; Burgasser, A. J.; Lane, R. R.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Ivans, I. I.; Hearty, F. R.
    We present an elemental abundance analysis of high-resolution spectra for five giant stars spatially located within the innermost regions of the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 and derive Fe, Mg, Al, C, N, O, Si, and Ce abundances based on H-band spectra taken with the multi-object APOGEE-north spectrograph from the SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. Of the five cluster candidates, two previously unremarked stars are confirmed to have second-generation (SG) abundance patterns, with the basic pattern of depletion in C and Mg simultaneous with enrichment in N and Al as seen in other SG globular cluster populations at similar metallicity. In agreement with the most recent optical studies, the NGC 6522 stars analyzed exhibit (when available) only mild overabundances of the s-process element Ce, contradicting the idea that NGC 6522 stars are formed from gas enriched by spinstars and indicating that other stellar sources such as massive AGB stars could be the primary polluters of intra-cluster medium. The peculiar abundance signatures of SG stars have been observed in our data, confirming the presence of multiple generations of stars in NGC 6522.
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    Near-infrared spectroscopic observations of massive young stellar object candidates in the central molecular zone
    (2018) Nandakumar, G.; Schultheis, M.; Feldmeier-Krause, A.; Schodel, R.; Neumayer, N.; Matteucci, F.; Ryde, N.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Tej, A.
    Context. The central molecular zone (CMZ) is a similar to 200 pc region around the Galactic centre. The study of star formation in the central part of the Milky Way is of great interest as it provides a template for the closest galactic nuclei.
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    Observed kinematics of the Milky Way nuclear stellar disk region
    (2024) Zoccali, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Valenti, E.; Ramos, R. Contreras; Valenzuela-Navarro, A.; Salvo-Guajardo, C.
    Context. The nuclear region of the Milky Way, within approximately -1 degrees < l < +1 degrees and -0.3 degrees < b < +0.3 degrees (i.e., |l|< 150 pc, |b|< 45 pc), is believed to host a nuclear stellar disk, co-spatial with the gaseous central molecular zone. Previous kinematical studies detected faster rotation for the stars belonging to the nuclear stellar disk, compared to the surrounding regions. Aims. We analyze the rotation velocity of stars at the nuclear stellar disk, and compare them with its analog in a few control fields just outside this region. We limit our analysis to stars in the red clump of the color magnitude diagram, in order to be able to relate their mean de-reddened luminosity with distance along the line of sight. Methods. We used a proper motion catalog, obtained from point spread function photometry on VISTA variables in the V & iacute;a L & aacute;ctea images, to construct maps of the transverse velocity for these stars. We complemented our analysis with radial velocities from the 17th data release of the APOGEE survey. Results. We find that the main difference between the nuclear stellar disk region and its surroundings is that at the former we see only stars moving eastward, which we believe are located in front of the Galactic center. On the contrary, in every other direction, we see the brightest red clump stars moving eastward, and the faintest ones moving westward, as expected for a rotating disk. We interpret these observations as being produced by the central molecular zone, hiding stars behind itself. What we observe is compatible with being produced by just the absence of the component at the back, without requiring the presence of a cold, fast rotating disk. This component is also not clearly detected in the newest release of the APOGEE catalog. In other words, we find no clear signature of the nuclear stellar disk as a distinct kinematical component. Conclusions. This work highlights the need for nearby control fields when attempting to characterize the properties of the nuclear stellar disk, as the different systematics affecting this region, compared to nearby ones, might introduce spurious results. Deep, wide field and high resolution photometry of the inner 4 deg of the Milky Way is needed in order to understand the structure and kinematics of this very unique region of our Galaxy.
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    Spectroscopic analysis of VVV CL001 cluster with MUSE
    (2022) Olivares Carvajal, J.; Zoccali, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Contreras Ramos, R.; Gran, F.; Valenti, E.; Minniti, J. H.
    Like most spiral galaxies, the Milky Way contains a population of blue, metal-poor globular clusters and another of red, metal-rich ones. Most of the latter belong to the bulge, and therefore they are poorly studied compared to the blue (halo) ones because they suffer higher extinction and larger contamination from field stars. These intrinsic difficulties, together with a lack of low-mass bulge globular clusters, are reasons to believe that their census is not complete yet. Indeed, a few new clusters have been confirmed in the last few years. One of them is VVV CL001, the subject of the present study. We present a new spectroscopic analysis of the recently confirmed globular cluster VVV CL001, made by means of MUSE@VLT integral field data. Individual spectra were extracted for stars in the VVV CL001 field. Radial velocities were derived by cross-correlation with synthetic templates. Coupled with proper motions from the VVV (VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea) survey, these data allow us to select 55 potential cluster members, for which we derive metallicities using the public code The Cannon. The mean radial velocity of the cluster is V-helio = -324.9 +/- 0.8 km s(-1), as estimated from 55 cluster members. This high velocity, together with a low metallicity [Fe/H] = -2.04 +/- 0.02 dex, suggests that VVV CL001 could be a very old cluster. The estimated distance is d = 8.23 +/- 0.46 kpc, placing the cluster in the Galactic bulge. Furthermore, both its current position and the orbital parameters suggest that VVV CL001 is most probably a bulge globular cluster.
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    The bimodal [Mg/Fe] versus [Fe/H] bulge sequence as revealed by APOGEE DR14
    (2019) Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Zoccali, M.; Schultheis, M.; Recio-Blanco, A.; Zasowski, G.; Minniti, D.; Jonsson, H.; Cohen, R. E.
    Context. The Galactic bulge has a bimodal metallicity distribution function: different kinematic, spatial, and, potentially, age distributions characterize the metal-poor and metal-rich components. Despite this observed dichotomy, which argues for different formation channels for those stars, the distribution of bulge stars in the alpha-abundance versus metallicity plane has been found so far to be a rather smooth single sequence.
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    The chemistry of stars in the bar of the Milky Way
    (2019) Wegg, C.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Schultheis, M.; Gerhard, O.
    We use a sample of 938 red clump giant stars located in the direction of the Galactic long bar to study the chemistry of Milky Way bar stars. Kinematically separating stars on bar orbits from stars with inner disc orbits, we find that stars on bar-like orbits are more metal rich with a mean iron abundance of ⟨[Fe/H]⟩=+0.30 compared to ⟨[Fe/H]⟩=+0.03 for the inner disc. Spatially selecting bar stars is complicated by a strong vertical metallicity gradient of -1.1 dex kpc(-1), but we find the metallicity distribution varies in a manner consistent with our orbital selection. Our results have two possible interpretations. The first is that the most metal rich stars in the inner Galaxy pre-existed the bar, but were kinematically cold at the time of bar formation and therefore more easily captured onto bar orbits when the bar formed. The second is that the most metal rich stars formed after the bar, either directly onto the bar following orbits or were captured by the bar after their formation.
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    The diffuse interstellar band around 8620 Å II. Kinematics and distance of the DIB carrier
    (2021) Zhao, H.; Schultheis, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Recio-Blanco, A.; de Laverny, P.; Kordopatis, G.; Surot, F.
    Context. Diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are important interstellar absorption features of which the origin is still debated. With the large data sets from modern spectroscopic surveys, background stars are widely used to show how the integrated columns of DIB carriers accumulate from the Sun to great distances. To date, studies on the kinematics of the DIB carriers are still rare. Aims. We aim to make use of the measurements from the Giraffe Inner Bulge Survey (GIBS) and the Gaia-ESO survey (GES) to study the kinematics and distance of the carrier of DIB lambda 8620, as well as other properties. Methods. The DIBs were detected and measured following the same procedures as in Zhao et al. (2021, A&A, 645, A14; hereafter Paper I), assuming a Gaussian profile. The median radial velocities of the DIB carriers in 38 GIBS and GES fields were used to trace their kinematics, and the median distances of the carriers in each field were estimated by the median radial velocities and two applied Galactic rotation models. Results. We successfully detected and measured DIB lambda 8620 in 760 of 4117 GES spectra with |b| <= 10 degrees and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) > 50. Combined with the DIBs measured in GIBS spectra (Paper I), we confirmed a tight relation between EW and E(J - K-S) as well as A(V), with similar fitting coefficients to those found by previous works. With a more accurate sample and the consideration of the solar motion, the rest-frame wavelength of DIB lambda 8620 was redetermined as 8620.83 A, with a mean fit error of 0.36 A. We studied the kinematics of the DIB carriers by tracing their median radial velocities in each field in the local standard of rest (V-LSR) and into the galactocentric frame (V-GC), respectively, as a function of the Galactic longitudes. Based on the median V-LSR and two Galactic rotation models, we obtained valid kinematic distances of the DIB carriers for nine GIBS and ten GES fields. We also found a linear relation between the DIB lambda 8620 measured in this work and the near-infrared DIB in APOGEE spectra at 1.5273 mu m, and we estimated the carrier abundance to be slightly lower compared to the DIB lambda 15273. Conclusions. We demonstrate that the DIB carriers can be located much closer to the observer than the background stars based on the following arguments: (i) qualitatively, the carriers occupy in the Galactic longitude-velocity diagram typical rotation velocities of stars in the local Galactic disk, while the background stars in the GIBS survey are mainly located in the Galactic bulge; (ii) quantitatively, all the derived kinematic distances of the DIB carriers are smaller than the median distances to background stars in each field. A linear correlation between DIB lambda 8620 and DIB lambda 15273 has been established, showing similar carrier abundances and making them both attractive for future studies of the interstellar environments.
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    The Milky Way bar and bulge revealed by APOGEE and Gaia EDR3
    (2021) Queiroz, A. B. A.; Chiappini, C.; Perez-Villegas, A.; Khalatyan, A.; Anders, F.; Barbuy, B.; Santiago, B. X.; Steinmetz, M.; Cunha, K.; Schultheis, M.; Majewski, S. R.; Minchev, I; Minniti, D.; Beaton, R. L.; Cohen, R. E.; da Costa, L. N.; Fernandez-Trincado, J. G.; Garcia-Hernandez, D. A.; Geisler, D.; Hasselquist, S.; Lane, R. R.; Nitschelm, C.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Roman-Lopes, A.; Smith, V; Zasowski, G.
    We investigate the inner regions of the Milky Way using data from APOGEE and Gaia EDR3. Our inner Galactic sample has more than 26 500 stars within |X-Gal|< 5 kpc, |Y-Gal|< 3.5 kpc, |Z(Gal)|< 1 kpc, and we also carry out the analysis for a foreground-cleaned subsample of 8000 stars that is more representative of the bulge-bar populations. These samples allow us to build chemo-dynamical maps of the stellar populations with vastly improved detail. The inner Galaxy shows an apparent chemical bimodality in key abundance ratios [alpha/Fe], [C/N], and [Mn/O], which probe different enrichment timescales, suggesting a star formation gap (quenching) between the high- and low-alpha populations. Using a joint analysis of the distributions of kinematics, metallicities, mean orbital radius, and chemical abundances, we can characterize the different populations coexisting in the innermost regions of the Galaxy for the first time. The chemo-kinematic data dissected on an eccentricity-|Z|(max) plane reveal the chemical and kinematic signatures of the bar, the thin inner disc, and an inner thick disc, and a broad metallicity population with large velocity dispersion indicative of a pressure-supported component. The interplay between these different populations is mapped onto the different metallicity distributions seen in the eccentricity-|Z|(max) diagram consistently with the mean orbital radius and V-phi distributions. A clear metallicity gradient as a function of |Z|(max) is also found, which is consistent with the spatial overlapping of different populations. Additionally, we find and chemically and kinematically characterize a group of counter-rotating stars that could be the result of a gas-rich merger event or just the result of clumpy star formation during the earliest phases of the early disc that migrated into the bulge. Finally, based on 6D information, we assign stars a probability value of being on a bar orbit and find that most of the stars with large bar orbit probabilities come from the innermost 3 kpc, with a broad dispersion of metallicity. Even stars with a high probability of belonging to the bar show chemical bimodality in the [alpha/Fe] versus [Fe/H] diagram. This suggests bar trapping to be an efficient mechanism, explaining why stars on bar orbits do not show a significant, distinct chemical abundance ratio signature.
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    The nuclear stellar disc of the Milky Way: A dynamically cool and metal-rich component possibly formed from the central molecular zone
    (2021) Schultheis, M.; Fritz, T. K.; Nandakumar, G.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Nogueras-Lara, F.; Feldmeier-Krause, A.; Gerhard, O.; Neumayer, N.; Patrick, L. R.; Prieto, M. A.; Schodel, R.; Mastrobuono-Battisti, A.; Sormani, M. C.
    Context. The nuclear stellar disc (NSD) is, together with the nuclear star cluster (NSC) and the central massive black hole, one of the main components in the central parts of our Milky Way. However, until recently, only a few studies of the stellar content of the NSD have been obtained owing to extreme extinction and stellar crowding.Aims. We study the kinematics and global metallicities of the NSD based on the observations of K/M giant stars via a dedicated KMOS (VLT, ESO) spectroscopic survey.Methods. We traced radial velocities and metallicities, which were derived based on spectral indices (Na I and CO) along the NSD, and compared those with a Galactic bulge sample of APOGEE (DR16) and data from the NSC.Results. We find that the metallicity distribution function and the fraction of metal-rich and metal-poor stars in the NSD are different from the corresponding distributions and ratios of the NSC and the Galactic bulge. By tracing the velocity dispersion as a function of metallicity, we clearly see that the NSD is kinematically cool and that the velocity dispersion decreases with increasing metallicity contrary to the inner bulge sample of APOGEE (|b|< 4 degrees). Using molecular gas tracers (H2CO, CO(4-3)) of the central molecular zone (CMZ), we find an astonishing agreement between the gas rotation and the rotation of the metal-rich population. This agreement indicates that the metal-rich stars could have formed from gas in the CMZ. On the other hand, the metal-poor stars show a much slower rotation profile with signs of counter-rotation, thereby indicating that these stars have a different origin.Conclusions. Coupling kinematics with global metallicities, our results demonstrate that the NSD is chemically and kinematically distinct with respect to the inner bulge, which indicates a different formation scenario.
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    The origin of stellar populations in the Galactic bulge from chemical abundances
    (2019) Matteucci, F.; Grisoni, V.; Spitoni, E.; Zulianello, A.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Schultheis, M.; Ryde, N.
    In this work, we study the formation and chemical evolution of the Galactic bulge with particular focus on the abundance pattern ([Mg/Fe] versus [Fe/H]), metallicity, and age distribution functions. We consider detailed chemical evolution models for the Galactic bulge and inner disc, with the aim of shedding light on the connection between these components and the origin of bulge stars. In particular, we first present a model assuming a fast and intense star formation, with the majority of bulge stars forming on a time-scale less than 1Gyr. Then we analyse the possibility of two distinct stellar populations in the bulge, as suggested by Gaia-ESO and APOGEE data. These two populations, one metal poor and the other metal rich, can have had two different origins: (i) the metal rich formed after a stop of similar to 250Myr in the star formation rate of the bulge or (ii) the metal-rich population is made of stars formed in the inner disc and brought into the bulge by the early secular evolution of the bar. We also examine the case of multiple starbursts in the bulge with consequent formation of multiple populations, as suggested by studies of microlensed stars. After comparing model results and observations, we suggest that the most likely scenario is that there are two main stellar populations, both made mainly by old stars (>10Gyr), with the metal-rich and younger one formed from inner thin disc stars, in agreement with kinematical arguments. However, on the basis of dynamical simulations, we cannot completely exclude that the second population formed after a stop in the star formation during the bulge evolution, so that all the stars formed in situ.
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    The VVV survey: Long-period variable stars. I. Photometric catalog of ten VVV/OGLE tiles
    (2022) Nikzat, F.; Ferreira Lopes, C. E.; Catelan, Marcio; Contreras Ramos, R.; Zoccali, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Braga, V. F.; Minniti, D.; Borissova, J.; Becker, I.
    Context. Long-period variable stars (LPVs) are pulsating red giants, primarily in the asymptotic giant branch phase, and they include both Miras and semi-regular variables (SRVs). Their period-age and period-luminosity relations enable us to trace different stellar populations, as they are intrinsically very bright and cover a wide range in distances and ages. Aims: The purpose of this study is to establish a census of LPV stars in a region close to the Galactic center, using the six-year database of the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) ESO Public Survey, as well as to describe the methodology that was employed to search for and characterize LPVs using VVV data. Near-IR surveys such as VVV provide a unique opportunity to probe the high-extinction innermost regions of the Milky Way. The detection and analysis of the intrinsically bright Miras in this region could provide us with an excellent probe of the properties of the Milky Way far behind its bulge. Methods: We used point-spread function photometry for all available Ks-band images in ten VVV tiles, covering 16.4 deg2 in total, overlapping fields observed in the course of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE)-III survey. We designed a method to select LPV candidates, and we used the known variables from OGLE-III and other known variables from the literature to test our approach. The reduced χ2 statistic, along with the flux-independent index K(fi), were used in our analysis. The Lomb-Scargle period search method, Fourier analysis, template fitting, and visual inspection were then performed to refine our sample and characterize the properties of the stars included in our catalog. Results: A final sample of 130 Mira candidates, of which 129 are new discoveries, was thus obtained, with periods in the range between about 80 and 1400 days. Moreover, a sample of 1013 LPV candidates is also presented, whose periods are however not sufficiently constrained by the available data. A fraction of the latter may eventually turn out to be SRVs. Ages are measured for these stars based on a reassessment of the period-age relations available in the literature. The Miras in our catalog include 18 stars satisfying the requirements to serve as reliable distance indicators and which are not saturated in the VVV Ks-band images. Their distances are accordingly derived and discussed. A number of objects that are seemingly placed far behind the Milky Way's bulge was detected. Fulll Tables A.1 and B.2 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/660/A35...
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    Unveiling the structural content of NGC 6357 via kinematics and NIR variability
    (2024) Ordenes-Huanca, C.; Zoccali, M.; Bayo, A.; Cuadra, J.; Contreras Ramos, R.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.
    NGC 6357, a star-forming complex at similar to 1.7 kpc from the Sun, contains giant molecular clouds and three prominent star clusters alongside with HII regions, very massive stars and thousands of young stellar objects in different evolutionary stages. We present a combined infrared kinematic and time domain study of the line of sight towards this region enabled by the VVVX survey. In terms of kinematics, a novel discovery emerges: an asymmetrical distribution in the vector point diagram. Some stars in the sample exhibit spatial proximity to dusty regions, with their proper motions aligned with filament projections, hinting at a younger population linked to triggered star formation. However, this distribution could also stem from an asymmetric stellar expansion event within NGC 6357, warranting further investigation. Comparing this data with Gaia revealed inconsistencies likely due to high extinction levels in the region. Additionally, owing to accretion episodes and surface cool spots, young stars display high variability. Using the K-s-band time series data, we overcome the extreme levels of extinction towards the region, and compile a catalogue of 774 infrared light curves of young stars. Each light curve has been characterized in terms of asymmetry and periodicity, to infer the dominant underlying physical mechanism. These findings are then correlated with evolutionary stages, aiming to uncover potential age disparities among the observed stars. This study contributes to our understanding the intricate dynamics and evolutionary processes within NGC 6357, offering valuable insights into the formation and development of stellar populations within such complex environments
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    Using classical Cepheids to study the far side of the Milky Way disk II. The spiral structure in the first and fourth Galactic quadrants
    (2021) Minniti, J. H.; Zoccali, M.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.; Minniti, D.; Sbordone, L.; Ramos, R. Contreras; Braga, V. F.; Catelan, M.; Duffau, S.; Gieren, W.; Marconi, M.; Valcarce, A. A. R.
    In an effort to improve our understanding of the spiral arm structure of the Milky Way, we use classical Cepheids (CCs) to increase the number of young tracers on the far side of the Galactic disk with accurately determined distances. We used a sample of 30 CCs that were discovered using near-infrared photometry from the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea survey (VVV) and classified based on their radial velocities and metallicities. We combined them with another 20 CCs from the literature for which VVV photometry is available. We used the compiled sample of CCs with homogeneously computed distances based on VVV infrared photometry as a proof of concept to trace the spiral structure in the poorly explored far side of the disk. Although the use of CCs has some caveats, these variables are currently the only available young tracers on the far side of the disk for which a numerous sample with accurate distances can be obtained. Therefore, a larger sample could allow us to make a significant step forward in our understanding of the Milky Way disk as a whole. We present preliminary evidence that CCs favor the following: a spiral arm model with two main arms (Perseus and Scutum-Centaurus) that branch out into four arms at Galactocentric distances, R-GC >= 5-6 kpc; the extension of the Scutum-Centaurus arm behind the Galactic center; and a possible connection between the Perseus arm and the Norma tangency direction. The current sample of CCs on the far side of the Galaxy are in the mid-plane, which argues against the presence of a severely warped disk at small Galactocentric distances (R-GC <= 12 kpc) in the studied area. The discovery and characterization of CCs at near-infrared wavelengths appears to be a promising tool to complement studies based on other spiral arm tracers and extend them to the far side of our Galaxy.