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Spitzer infrared spectrograph point source classification in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Ruffle, Paul M.E.; Kemper, F.; Jones, O.C.; Sloan, G.C.; Kraemer, K.E.; Woods, Paul M.; Boyer, M.L.; Srinivasan, S.; Antoniou, V.; Lagadec, E.; Matsuura, M.; McDonald, I.; Oliveira, J.M.; Sargent, B.A.; Sewiło, M.; Szczerba, R.; van Loon, J.; Van Loon, J. Th.; Volk, K.; Zijlstra, A.A.

Spitzer infrared spectrograph point source classification in the Small Magellanic Cloud Thumbnail


Authors

Paul M.E. Ruffle

F. Kemper

O.C. Jones

G.C. Sloan

K.E. Kraemer

Paul M. Woods

M.L. Boyer

S. Srinivasan

V. Antoniou

E. Lagadec

M. Matsuura

I. McDonald

B.A. Sargent

M. Sewiło

R. Szczerba

J. van Loon

K. Volk

A.A. Zijlstra



Abstract

The Magellanic Clouds are uniquely placed to study the stellar contribution to dust emission. Individual stars can be resolved in these systems even in the mid-infrared, and they are close enough to allow detection of infrared excess caused by dust. We have searched the Spitzer Space Telescope data archive for all Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) staring-mode observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and found that 209 Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) point sources within the footprint of the Surveying the Agents of Galaxy Evolution in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SAGE-SMC) Spitzer Legacy programme were targeted, within a total of 311 staring-mode observations. We classify these point sources using a decision tree method of object classification, based on infrared spectral features, continuum and spectral energy distribution shape, bolometric luminosity, cluster membership and variability information. We find 58 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, 51 young stellar objects, 4 post-AGB objects, 22 red supergiants, 27 stars (of which 23 are dusty OB stars), 24 planetary nebulae (PNe), 10 Wolf–Rayet stars, 3 H II regions, 3 R Coronae Borealis stars, 1 Blue Supergiant and 6 other objects, including 2 foreground AGB stars. We use these classifications to evaluate the success of photometric classification methods reported in the literature.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 11, 2015
Publication Date Jun 25, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Print ISSN 0035-8711
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 451
Issue 4
Pages 3504 -3536
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv1106
Keywords techniques: spectroscopic, surveys, dust extinction, H ii regions, Magellanic Clouds, infrared: stars
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv1106

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