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MagAO-X is the coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics system for the 6.5 m Magellan Clay Telescope. We report the results of commissioning the first phase of MagAO-X. Components now available for routine observations include: the >2 kHz high-order control loop consisting of a 97 actuator woofer deformable mirror (DM), a 2040 actuator tweeter DM, and a modulated pyramid wavefront sensor (WFS); classical Lyot coronagraphs with integrated low-order (LO) WFS and control using a third 97-actuator non-common path correcting (NCPC) DM; broad band imaging in g, r, i, and z filters with two EMCCDs; simultaneous differential imaging in H-alpha; and integral field spectroscopy with the VIS-X module. Early science results include the discovery of an H-alpha jet, images of accreting protoplanets at H-alpha, images of young extrasolar giant planets in the optical, discovery of new white dwarf companions, resolved images of evolved stars, and high-contrast images of circumstellar disks in scattered light in g-band (500 nm). We have commenced an upgrade program, called "Phase II", to enable high-contrast observations at the smallest inner working angles possible. These upgrades include a new 952 actuator NCPC DM to enable coronagraphic wavefront control; phase induced amplitude apodization coronagraphs; new fast cameras for LOWFS and Lyot-LOWFS; and real-time computer upgrades. We will report the status of these upgrades and results of first on-sky testing in March-May 2024., Comment: Presented at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes

We present an analysis of high-resolution optical spectra recorded for 30 stars of the split extended main-sequence turnoff (eMSTO) of the young ($\sim$ 40 Myr) Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) globular cluster NGC 330. Spectra were obtained with the M2FS and MIKE spectrographs located on the Magellan-Clay 6.5m telescope. These spectra revealed the presence of Be stars, occupying primarily the cool side of the split main sequence (MS). Rotational velocity ($v\sin{i}$) measurements for most of the targets are consistent with the presence of two populations of stars in the cluster: one made up of rapidly rotating Be stars ($ \approx 200$ $\rm km\,s^{-1}$), and {the other} consisting of warmer stars with slower rotation ($<\!v\sin{i}\!>\approx50$ $\rm km\,s^{-1}$). Core emission in the H$\delta$ photospheric lines was observed for most of the H$\alpha$ emitters. The shell parameter computed for the targets in our sample indicate that most of the observed stars should have inclinations below 75$^{\circ}$. These results confirm the detection of Be stars obtained through photometry, but also reveal the presence of narrow H$\alpha$ and H$\delta$ features for some targets that cannot be detected with low-resolution spectroscopy or photometry. Asymmetry variability of H$\alpha$ line profiles on the timescales of a few years is also observed, and could provide information on the geometry of the decretion disks. Observations revealed the presence of nebular H$\alpha$ emission, strong enough in faint targets to compromise the extraction of spectra and to impact narrow band photometry used to assess the presence of H$\alpha$ emission., Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

M15 is a globular cluster with a known spread in neutron-capture elements. This paper presents abundances of neutron-capture elements for 62 stars in M15. Spectra were obtained with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) spectrograph, covering a wavelength range from ~4430-4630 A. Spectral lines from Fe I, Fe II, Sr I, Zr II, Ba II, La II, Ce II, Nd II, Sm II, Eu II, and Dy II, were measured, enabling classifications and neutron-capture abundance patterns for the stars. Of the 62 targets, 44 are found to be highly Eu-enhanced r-II stars, another 17 are moderately Eu-enhanced r-I stars, and one star is found to have an s-process signature. The neutron-capture patterns indicate that the majority of the stars are consistent with enrichment by the r-process. The 62 target stars are found to show significant star-to-star spreads in Sr, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Dy, but no significant spread in Fe. The neutron-capture abundances are further found to have slight correlations with sodium abundances from the literature, unlike what has been previously found; follow-up studies are needed to verify this result. The findings in this paper suggest that the Eu-enhanced stars in M15 were enhanced by the same process, that the nucleosynthetic source of this Eu pollution was the r-process, and that the r-process source occurred as the first generation of cluster stars was forming., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

We present spectroscopic data for 16369 stellar targets within and/or toward 38 dwarf spheroidal galaxies and faint star clusters within the Milky Way halo environment. All spectra come from observations with the multi-object, fiber-fed echelle spectrographs M2FS at the Magellan/Clay telescope or Hectochelle at the MMT, reaching a typical limiting magnitude G < 21. Data products include processed spectra from all observations and catalogs listing estimates -- derived from template model fitting -- of line-of-sight velocity (median uncertainty 1.1 km/s) effective temperature (234 K), (base10 logarithm of) surface gravity (0.52 dex in cgs units), [Fe/H] (0.38 dex) and [Mg/Fe] (0.24 dex) abundance ratios. The sample contains multi-epoch measurements for 3720 sources, with up to 15 epochs per source, enabling studies of intrinsic spectroscopic variability. The sample contains 6078 likely red giant stars (based on surface gravity), and 4494 likely members (based on line-of-sight velocity and Gaia-measured proper motion) of the target systems. The number of member stars per individual target system ranges from a few, for the faintest systems, to ~ 850 for the most luminous. For most systems, our new samples extend over wider fields than have previously been observed; of the likely members in our samples, 823 lie beyond twice the projected halflight radius of their host system, and 42 lie beyond 5 Rhalf., Comment: Published September 2023 in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, processed spectra and catalogs publicly available at the Zenodo database doi:10.5281/zenodo.7837922

We used high resolution spectra acquired at the Magellan Telescope to measure radial and rotational velocities of approximately 200 stars in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 3201. The surveyed sample includes Blue Stragglers Stars (BSSs) and reference stars in different evolutionary stages (main sequence turn-off, sub-giant, red giant and asymptotic giant branches). The average radial velocity value ($\langle V_r\rangle = 494.5 \pm 0.5$ km s$^{-1}$) confirms a large systemic velocity for this cluster and was used to distinguish 33 residual field interlopers. The final sample of member stars counts 67 BSSs and 114 reference stars. Similarly to what is found in other clusters, the totality of the reference stars has negligible rotation ($<20$ km s$^{-1}$), while the BSS rotational velocity distribution shows a long tail extending up to $\sim 200$ km s$^{-1}$, with 19 BSSs (out of 67) spinning faster than 40 km s$^{-1}$. This sets the percentage of fast rotating BSSs to $\sim 28\%$. Such a percentage is roughly comparable to that measured in other loose systems ($\omega$ Centauri, M4 and M55) and significantly larger than that measured in high-density clusters (as 47 Tucanae, NGC 6397, NGC 6752 and M30). This evidence supports a scenario where recent BSS formation (mainly from the evolution of binary systems) is occurring in low-density environments. We also find that the BSS rotational velocity tends to decrease for decreasing luminosity and surface temperature, similarly to what is observed in main sequence stars. Hence, further investigations are needed to understand the impact of BSS internal structure on the observed rotational velocities., Comment: Accepted for pubblication in ApJ: 14 pages, 10 figures

We present Magellan/M2FS spectroscopy of four recently discovered Milky Way star clusters (Gran 3/Patchick~125, Gran 4, Garro 01, LP 866) and two newly discovered open clusters (Gaia 9, Gaia 10) at low Galactic latitudes. We measure line-of-sight velocities and stellar parameters ([Fe/H], $\log{g}$, $T_{\rm eff}$, [Mg/Fe]) from high resolution spectroscopy centered on the Mg triplet and identify 20-80 members per star cluster. We determine the kinematics and chemical properties of each cluster and measure the systemic proper motion and orbital properties by utilizing Gaia astrometry. We find Gran 3 to be an old, metal-poor (mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.84) globular cluster located in the Galactic bulge on a retrograde orbit. Gran 4 is an old, metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-1.84) globular cluster with a halo-like orbit that happens to be passing through the Galactic plane. The orbital properties of Gran 4 are consistent with the proposed LMS-1/Wukong and/or Helmi streams merger events. Garro 01 is metal-rich ([Fe/H]=-0.30) and on a near circular orbit in the outer disk but its classification as an open cluster or globular cluster is ambiguous. . Gaia 9 and Gaia 10 are among the most distant known open clusters at $R_{GC}\sim 18, 21.2~kpc$ and most metal-poor with [Fe/H]~-0.50,-0.46 for Gaia 9 and Gaia 10, respectively. LP 866 is a nearby, metal-rich open cluster ([Fe/H]$=+0.1$). The discovery and confirmation of multiple star clusters in the Galactic plane shows the power of {\it Gaia} astrometry and the star cluster census remains incomplete., Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted to MNRAS, associated data products available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7809128

We present the direct imaging discovery of a low-mass companion to the nearby accelerating F star, HIP 5319, using SCExAO coupled with the CHARIS, VAMPIRES, and MEC instruments in addition to Keck/NIRC2 imaging. CHARIS $JHK$ (1.1-2.4 $\mu$m) spectroscopic data combined with VAMPIRES 750 nm, MEC $Y$, and NIRC2 $L_{\rm p}$ photometry is best matched by an M3--M7 object with an effective temperature of T=3200 K and surface gravity log($g$)=5.5. Using the relative astrometry for HIP 5319 B from CHARIS and NIRC2 and absolute astrometry for the primary from $Gaia$ and $Hipparcos$ and adopting a log-normal prior assumption for the companion mass, we measure a dynamical mass for HIP 5319 B of $31^{+35}_{-11}M_{\rm J}$, a semimajor axis of $18.6^{+10}_{-4.1}$ au, an inclination of $69.4^{+5.6}_{-15}$ degrees, and an eccentricity of $0.42^{+0.39}_{-0.29}$. However, using an alternate prior for our dynamical model yields a much higher mass of 128$^{+127}_{-88}M_{\rm J}$. Using data taken with the LCOGT NRES instrument we also show that the primary HIP 5319 A is a single star in contrast to previous characterizations of the system as a spectroscopic binary. This work underscores the importance of assumed priors in dynamical models for companions detected with imaging and astrometry and the need to have an updated inventory of system measurements., Comment: 19 pages, 9 figuresm 5 tables

The ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Reticulum~II was enriched by a single rare and prolific r-process event. The r-process content of Reticulum~II thus provides a unique opportunity to study metal mixing in a relic first galaxy. Using multi-object high-resolution spectroscopy with VLT/GIRAFFE and Magellan/M2FS, we identify 32 clear spectroscopic member stars and measure abundances of Mg, Ca, Fe, and Ba where possible. We find $72^{+10}_{-12}$% of the stars are r-process-enhanced, with a mean $\left\langle\mbox{[Ba/H]}\right\rangle=-1.68~\pm~0.07$ and unresolved intrinsic dispersion $\sigma_{\rm [Ba/H]} < 0.20$. The homogeneous r-process abundances imply that Ret~II's metals are well-mixed by the time the r-enhanced stars form, which simulations have shown requires at least 100 Myr of metal mixing in between bursts of star formation to homogenize. This is the first direct evidence of bursty star formation in an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy. The homogeneous dilution prefers a prompt and high-yield r-process site, such as collapsar disk winds or prompt neutron star mergers. We also find evidence from [Ba/H] and [Mg/Ca] that the r-enhanced stars in Ret~II formed in the absence of substantial pristine gas accretion, perhaps indicating that ${\approx}70$% of Ret~II stars formed after reionization., Comment: 37 pages, 12 figures, 10 tables, accepted to AJ

We present The MKID Pipeline, a general use science data pipeline for the reduction and analysis of ultraviolet, optical and infrared (UVOIR) Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) data sets. This paper provides an introduction to the nature of MKID data sets, an overview of the calibration steps included in the pipeline, and an introduction to the implementation of the software., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures

The dense central regions of tidally disrupted galaxies can survive as ultra-compact dwarfs (UCDs) that hide among the luminous globular clusters (GCs) in the halo of massive galaxies. An exciting confirmation of this model is the detection of overmassive black holes in the centers of some UCDs, which also lead to elevated dynamical mass-to-light ratios ($M/L_{dyn}$). Here we present new high-resolution spectroscopic observations of 321 luminous GC candidates in the massive galaxy NGC 5128/Centaurus A. Using these data we confirm 27 new luminous GCs, and measure velocity dispersions for 57 luminous GCs (with $g$-band luminosities between $2.5 \times 10^5$ and $2.5 \times 10^7 L_{\odot}$), of which 48 are new measurements. Combining these data with size measurements from Gaia, we determine the $M/L_{dyn}$ for all 57 luminous GCs. We see a clear bimodality in the $M/L_{dyn}$ distribution, with a population of normal GCs with mean $M/L_{dyn}=1.51\pm0.31$, and a second population of $\sim$20 GCs with elevated mean $M/L_{dyn}=2.68\pm0.22$. We show that black holes with masses $\sim4$-18 % of the luminous GCs can explain the elevated mass-to-light ratios. Hence, it is plausible that the NGC 5128 sources with elevated $M/L_{dyn}$ are mostly stripped galaxy nuclei that contain massive central black holes, though future high spatial resolution observations are necessary to confirm this hypothesis for individual sources. We also present a detailed discussion of an extreme outlier, \textit{VHH81-01}, one of the largest and most massive GC in NGC 5128, making it an exceptionally strong candidate to be a tidally stripped nucleus., Comment: Accepted to ApJ

The Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy has an anomalous number of globular clusters, five, for its stellar mass. There is a longstanding debate about a potential sixth globular cluster (Fornax~6) that has recently been `rediscovered' in DECam imaging. We present new Magellan/M2FS spectroscopy of the Fornax~6 cluster and Fornax dSph. Combined with literature data we identify $\sim15-17$ members of the Fornax~6 cluster that this overdensity is indeed a star cluster and associated with the Fornax dSph. The cluster is significantly more metal-rich (mean metallicity of $\overline{\rm [Fe/H]}=-0.71\pm0.05$) than the other five Fornax globular clusters ($-2.5<[Fe/H]<-1.4$) and more metal-rich than the bulk of Fornax. We measure a velocity dispersion of $5.6_{-1.6}^{+2.0}\,{\rm km \, s^{-1}}$ corresponding to anomalously high mass-to-light of 15$<$M/L$<$258 at 90\% confidence when calculated assuming equilibrium. Two stars inflate this dispersion and may be either Fornax field stars or as yet unresolved binary stars. Alternatively the Fornax~6 cluster may be undergoing tidal disruption. Based on its metal-rich nature, the Fornax 6 cluster is likely younger than the other Fornax clusters, with an estimated age of $\sim2$ Gyr when compared to stellar isochrones. The chemodynamics and star formation history of Fornax shows imprints of major events such as infall into the Milky Way, multiple pericenter passages, star formation bursts, and/or potential mergers or interactions. Any of these events may have triggered the formation of the Fornax~6 cluster., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. Accepted to ApJ. Data catalogs included. Comments welcome

We present spectroscopy of individual stars in 26 Magellanic Cloud (MC) star clusters with the aim of estimating dynamical masses and $V$-band mass-to-light ($M/L_V$) ratios over a wide range in age and metallicity. We obtained 3137 high-resolution stellar spectra with M2FS on the \textit{Magellan}/Clay Telescope. Combined with 239 published spectroscopic results of comparable quality, we produced a final sample of 2787 stars with good quality spectra for kinematic analysis in the target clusters. Line-of-sight velocities measured from these spectra and stellar positions within each cluster were used in a customized expectation-maximization (EM) technique to estimate cluster membership probabilities. Using appropriate cluster structural parameters and corresponding single-mass dynamical models, this technique ultimately provides self-consistent total mass and $M/L_V$ estimates for each cluster. Mean metallicities for the clusters were also obtained and tied to a scale based on calcium IR triplet metallicites. We present trends of the cluster $M/L_V$ values with cluster age, mass and metallicity, and find that our results run about 40 per cent on average lower than the predictions of a set of simple stellar population (SSP) models. Modified SSP models that account for internal and external dynamical effects greatly improve agreement with our results, as can models that adopt a strongly bottom-light IMF. To the extent that dynamical evolution must occur, a modified IMF is not required to match data and models. In contrast, a bottom-heavy IMF is ruled out for our cluster sample as this would lead to higher predicted $M/L_V$ values, significantly increasing the discrepancy with our observations., Comment: 33 pages, 23 figures, 10 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present the development of a machine learning based pipeline to fully automate the calibration of the frequency comb used to read out optical/IR Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) arrays. This process involves determining the resonant frequency and optimal drive power of every pixel (i.e. resonator) in the array, which is typically done manually. Modern optical/IR MKID arrays, such as DARKNESS (DARK-speckle Near-infrared Energy-resolving Superconducting Spectrophotometer) and MEC (MKID Exoplanet Camera), contain 10-20,000 pixels, making the calibration process extremely time consuming; each 2000 pixel feedline requires 4-6 hours of manual tuning. Here we present a pipeline which uses a single convolutional neural network (CNN) to perform both resonator identification and tuning simultaneously. We find that our pipeline has performance equal to that of the manual tuning process, and requires just twelve minutes of computational time per feedline., Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures

We report the direct imaging discovery of a low-mass companion to the nearby accelerating A star, HIP 109427, with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument coupled with the MKID Exoplanet Camera (MEC) and CHARIS integral field spectrograph. CHARIS data reduced with reference star PSF subtraction yield 1.1-2.4 $\mu$m spectra. MEC reveals the companion in $Y$ and $J$ band at a comparable signal-to-noise ratio using stochastic speckle discrimination, with no PSF subtraction techniques. Combined with complementary follow-up $L_{\rm p}$ photometry from Keck/NIRC2, the SCExAO data favors a spectral type, effective temperature, and luminosity of M4-M5.5, 3000-3200 $K$, and $\log_{10}(L/L_{\rm \odot}) = -2.28^{+0.04}_{-0.04}$, respectively. Relative astrometry of HIP 109427 B from SCExAO/CHARIS and Keck/NIRC2, and complementary Gaia-Hipparcos absolute astrometry of the primary favor a semimajor axis of $6.55^{+3.0}_{-0.48}$ au, an eccentricity of $0.54^{+0.28}_{-0.15}$, an inclination of $66.7^{+8.5}_{-14}$ degrees, and a dynamical mass of $0.280^{+0.18}_{-0.059}$ $M_{\odot}$. This work shows the potential for extreme AO systems to utilize speckle statistics in addition to widely-used post-processing methods to directly image faint companions to nearby stars near the telescope diffraction limit., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables

The double red clump (RC) observed in color-magnitude diagrams of the Milky Way bulge is at the heart of the current debate on the structure and formation origin of the bulge. This feature can be explained by the difference between the two RCs either in distance ("X-shaped scenario") or in chemical composition ("multiple-population scenario"). Here we report our high-resolution spectroscopy for the RC and red giant branch stars in a high-latitude field (b ~ -8.5$\deg$) of the bulge. We find a difference in [Fe/H] between the stars in the bright and faint RC regimes, in the sense that the bright stars are enhanced in [Fe/H] with respect to the faint stars by 0.149 $\pm$ 0.036 dex. The stars on the bright RC are also enhanced in [Na/Fe] but appear to be depleted in [Al/Fe] and [O/Fe], although more observations are required to confirm the significance of these differences. Interestingly, these chemical patterns are similar to those observed among multiple stellar populations in the metal-rich bulge globular cluster Terzan 5. In addition, we find a number of Na-rich stars, which would corroborate the presence of multiple populations in the bulge. Our results support an origin of the double RC from dissolved globular clusters that harbor multiple stellar populations. Thus, our study suggests that a substantial fraction of the outer bulge stars would have originated from the assembly of such stellar systems in the early phase of the Milky Way formation., Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present the development of a second generation digital readout system for photon counting microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) arrays operating in the optical and near-IR wavelength bands. Our system retains much of the core signal processing architecture from the first generation system, but with a significantly higher bandwidth, enabling readout of kilopixel MKID arrays. Each set of readout boards is capable of reading out 1024 MKID pixels multiplexed over 2 GHz of bandwidth; two such units can be placed in parallel to read out a full 2048 pixel microwave feedline over a 4 -- 8 GHz band. As in the first generation readout, our system is capable of identifying, analyzing, and recording photon detection events in real time with a time resolution of order a few microseconds. Here, we describe the hardware and firmware, and present an analysis of the noise properties of the system. We also present a novel algorithm for efficiently suppressing IQ mixer sidebands to below -30 dBc., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures

We present the MKID Exoplanet Camera (MEC), a z through J band (800 - 1400 nm) integral field spectrograph located behind The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) at the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea that utilizes Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) as the enabling technology for high contrast imaging. MEC is the first permanently deployed near-infrared MKID instrument and is designed to operate both as an IFU, and as a focal plane wavefront sensor in a multi-kHz feedback loop with SCExAO. The read noise free, fast time domain information attainable by MKIDs allows for the direct probing of fast speckle fluctuations that currently limit the performance of most high contrast imaging systems on the ground and will help MEC achieve its ultimate goal of reaching contrasts of $10^{-7}$ at 2$\lambda / D$. Here we outline the instrument details of MEC including the hardware, firmware, and data reduction and analysis pipeline. We then discuss MEC's current on-sky performance and end with future upgrades and plans., Comment: To be published in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

The most massive and complex globular clusters in the Galaxy are thought to have originated as the nuclear cores of now tidally disrupted dwarf galaxies, but the connection between globular clusters and dwarf galaxies is tenuous with the M54/Sagittarius system representing the only unambiguous link. The globular cluster Omega Centauri (w Cen) is more massive and chemically diverse than M 54, and is thought to have been the nuclear star cluster of either the Sequoia or Gaia-Enceladus galaxy. Local Group dwarf galaxies with masses equivalent to these systems often host significant populations of very metal-poor stars ([Fe/H] < -2.5), and one might expect to find such objects in w Cen. Using high resolution spectra from Magellan-M2FS, we detected 11 stars in a targeted sample of 395 that have [Fe/H] ranging from -2.30 to -2.52. These are the most metal-poor stars discovered in the cluster, and are 5x more metal-poor than w Cen's dominant population. However, these stars are not so metal-poor as to be unambiguously linked to a dwarf galaxy origin. The cluster's metal-poor tail appears to contain two populations near [Fe/H] ~ -2.1 and -2.4, which are very centrally concentrated but do not exhibit any peculiar kinematic signatures. Several possible origins for these stars are discussed., Comment: AJ In press; 29 pages, 5 Figures

As an introduction of a kinematic survey of Magellanic Cloud (MC) star clusters, we report on the dynamical masses and mass-to-light ($M/L$) ratios of NGC 419 (SMC) and NGC 1846 (LMC). We have obtained more than one hundred high-resolution stellar spectra in and around each cluster using the multi-object spectrograph M2FS on the $Magellan$/Clay Telescope. Line-of-sight velocities and positions of the stars observed in each cluster were used as input to an expectation-maximization algorithm used to estimate cluster membership probabilities, resulting in samples of 46 and 52 likely members ($P_{M}\geq 50$%) in NGC 419 and NGC 1846, respectively. This process employed single-mass King models constrained by the structural parameters of the clusters and provided self-consistent dynamical mass estimates for both clusters. Our best-fit results show that NGC 419 has a projected central velocity dispersion of $2.44^{+0.37}_{-0.21}\ {\rm km\,s^{-1}}$, corresponding to a total mass of $7.6^{+2.5}_{-1.3}\times10^4\ {\rm M}_{\odot}$ and $V$-band $M/L$ ratio of $0.22^{+0.08}_{-0.05}$ in solar units. For NGC 1846, the corresponding results are $2.04^{+0.28}_{-0.24}\ {\rm km\,s^{-1}}$, $5.4^{+1.5}_{-1.4}\times10^4\ {\rm M}_{\odot}$ and $0.32^{+0.11}_{-0.11}$. The mean metallicities of NGC 419 and NGC 1846 are found to be $\rm [Fe/H]=-0.84\pm0.19$ and $-0.70\pm0.08$, respectively, based on the spectra of likely cluster members. We find marginal statistical evidence of rotation in both clusters, though in neither cluster does rotation alter our mass estimates significantly. We critically compare our findings with those of previous kinematic studies of these two clusters in order to evaluate the consistency of our observational results and analytic tools., Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Besides monitoring the bright star $\beta$ Pic during the near transit event for its giant exoplanet, the $\beta$ Pictoris b Ring (bRing) observatories at Siding Springs Observatory, Australia and Sutherland, South Africa have monitored the brightnesses of bright stars ($V$ $\simeq$ 4--8 mag) centered on the south celestial pole ($\delta$ $\leq$ -30$^{\circ}$) for approximately two years. Here we present a comprehensive study of the bRing time series photometry for bright southern stars monitored between 2017 June and 2019 January. Of the 16762 stars monitored by bRing, 353 of them were found to be variable. Of the variable stars, 80% had previously known variability and 20% were new variables. Each of the new variables was classified, including 3 new eclipsing binaries (HD 77669, HD 142049, HD 155781), 26 $\delta$ Scutis, 4 slowly pulsating B stars, and others. This survey also reclassified four stars based on their period of pulsation, light curve, spectral classification, and color-magnitude information. The survey data were searched for new examples of transiting circumsecondary disk systems, but no candidates were found., Comment: Accepted by ApJS, 35 pages, 5 figures, 10 tables

NGC 6402 is among the most massive globular clusters in the Galaxy, but little is known about its detailed chemical composition. Therefore, we obtained radial velocities and/or chemical abundances of 11 elements for 41 red giant branch cluster members using high resolution spectra obtained with the Magellan-M2FS instrument. We find NGC 6402 to be only moderately metal-poor with $\langle$[Fe/H]$\rangle$ = $-$1.13 dex ($\sigma$ = 0.05 dex) and to have a mean heliocentric radial velocity of $-$61.1 km s$^{\rm -1}$ ($\sigma$ = 8.5 km s$^{\rm -1}$). In general, NGC 6402 exhibits mean composition properties that are similar to other inner Galaxy clusters, such as [$\alpha$/Fe] $\sim$ $+$0.3 dex, [Cr,Ni/Fe] $\sim$ 0.0 dex, and $\langle$[La/Eu]$\rangle$ = $-$0.08 dex. Similarly, we find large star-to-star abundance variations for O, Na, Mg, Al, and Si that are indicative of gas that experienced high temperature proton-capture burning. Interestingly, we detect three distinct populations, but also find large gaps in the [O/Fe], [Na/Fe], and [Al/Fe] distributions that may provide the first direct evidence of delayed formation for intermediate composition stars. A qualitative enrichment model is discussed where clusters form stars through an early ($<$ 5$-$10 Myr) phase, which results in first generation and "extreme" composition stars, and a delayed phase ($>$ 40 Myr), which results in the dilution of processed and pristine gas and the formation of intermediate composition stars. For NGC 6402, the missing intermediate composition stars suggest the delayed phase terminated prematurely, and as a result the cluster may uniquely preserve details of the chemical enrichment process., Comment: Accepted for Publication in MNRAS; 25 pages; 15 figures; 4 tables; electronic versions up all tables are available upon request

The bRing robotic observatory network was built to search for circumplanetary material within the transiting Hill sphere of the exoplanet $\beta$ Pic b across its bright host star $\beta$ Pic. During the bRing survey of $\beta$ Pic, it simultaneously monitored the brightnesses of thousands of bright stars in the southern sky ($V$ $\simeq$ 4-8, $\delta$ $\lesssim$ -30$^{\circ}$). In this work, we announce the discovery of $\delta$ Scuti pulsations in the A-type star HD 156623 using bRing data. HD 156623 is notable as it is a well-studied young star with a dusty and gas-rich debris disk, previously detected using ALMA. We present the observational results on the pulsation periods and amplitudes for HD 156623, discuss its evolutionary status, and provide further constraints on its nature and age. We find strong evidence of frequency regularity and grouping. We do not find evidence of frequency, amplitude, or phase modulation for any of the frequencies over the course of the observations. We show that HD 156623 is consistent with other hot and high frequency pre-MS and early ZAMS $\delta$ Scutis as predicted by theoretical models and corresponding evolutionary tracks, although we observe that HD 156623 lies hotter than the theoretical blue edge of the classical instability strip. This, coupled with our characterization and Sco-Cen membership analyses, suggest that the star is most likely an outlying ZAMS member of the $\sim$16 Myr Upper Centaurus-Lupus subgroup of the Sco-Cen association., Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 15 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables

Galaxy clusters trace the largest structures of the Universe and provide ideal laboratories for studying galaxy evolution and cosmology. Clusters with extended X-ray emission have been discovered at redshifts up to z ~ 2.5. Meanwhile, there has been growing interest in hunting for protoclusters, the progenitors of clusters, at higher redshifts. It is, however, very challenging to find the largest protoclusters at early times when they start to assemble. Here we report a giant protocluster of galaxies at redshift z = 5.7, when the Universe was only one billion years old. This protocluster occupies a volume of about 35x35x35 cubic co-moving megaparsecs. It is embedded in an even larger overdense region with at least 41 spectroscopically confirmed, luminous Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies (Lyman-alpha Emitters, or LAEs), including several previously reported LAEs. Its LAE density is 6.6 times the average density at z ~ 5.7. It is the only one of its kind in an LAE survey in four square degrees on the sky. Such a large structure is also rarely seen in current cosmological simulations. This protocluster will collapse into a galaxy cluster with a mass of (3.6+/-0.9) x 10^{15} solar masses, comparable to those of the most massive clusters or protoclusters known to date., Comment: Published in Nature Astronomy on Oct 15, 2018 (DOI: 10.1038/s41550-018-0587-9)

We report the discovery of a nearby dwarf galaxy in the constellation of Hydrus, between the Large and the Small Magellanic Clouds. Hydrus 1 is a mildy elliptical ultra-faint system with luminosity $M_V\sim$ -4.7 and size $\sim$ 50 pc, located 28 kpc from the Sun and 24 kpc from the LMC. From spectroscopy of $\sim$ 30 member stars, we measure a velocity dispersion of 2.7 km/s and find tentative evidence for a radial velocity gradient consistent with 3 km/s rotation. Hydrus 1's velocity dispersion indicates that the system is dark matter dominated, but its dynamical mass-to-light ratio M/L $\sim$ 66 is significantly smaller than typical for ultra-faint dwarfs at similar luminosity. The kinematics and spatial position of Hydrus~1 make it a very plausible member of the family of satellites brought into the Milky Way by the Magellanic Clouds. While Hydrus 1's proximity and well-measured kinematics make it a promising target for dark matter annihilation searches, we find no evidence for significant gamma-ray emission from Hydrus 1. The new dwarf is a metal-poor galaxy with a mean metallicity [Fe/H]=-2.5 and [Fe/H] spread of 0.4 dex, similar to other systems of similar luminosity. Alpha-abundances of Hyi 1 members indicate that star-formation was extended, lasting between 0.1 and 1 Gyr, with self-enrichment dominated by SN Ia. The dwarf also hosts a highly carbon-enhanced extremely metal-poor star with [Fe/H] $\sim$ -3.2 and [C/Fe] $\sim$ +3.0., Comment: submitted to MNRAS; 21 pages

The study of the chemical abundances of metal-poor stars in dwarf galaxies provides a venue to constrain paradigms of chemical enrichment and galaxy formation. Here we present metallicity and carbon abundance measurements of 100 stars in Sculptor from medium-resolution (R ~ 2000) spectra taken with the Magellan/Michigan Fiber System mounted on the Magellan-Clay 6.5m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We identify 24 extremely metal-poor star candidates ([Fe/H] < -3.0) and 21 carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star candidates. Eight carbon-enhanced stars are classified with at least 2$\sigma$ confidence and five are confirmed as such with follow-up R~6000 observations using the Magellan Echellette Spectrograph on the Magellan-Baade 6.5m telescope. We measure a CEMP fraction of 36% for stars below [Fe/H] = -3.0, indicating that the prevalence of carbon-enhanced stars in Sculptor is similar to that of the halo (~43%) after excluding likely CEMP-s and CEMP-r/s stars from our sample. However, we do not detect that any CEMP stars are strongly enhanced in carbon (e.g., [C/Fe] > 1.0). The existence of a large number of CEMP stars both in the halo and in Sculptor suggests that some halo CEMP stars may have originated from accreted early analogs of dwarf galaxies., Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Changes w.r.t. v1: corrected legend in Figure 12, updated references

Photometric and spectroscopic analyses have shown that the Galactic bulge cluster Terzan 5 hosts several populations with different metallicities and ages that manifest as a double red horizontal branch (HB). A recent investigation of the massive bulge cluster NGC 6569 revealed a similar, though less extended, HB luminosity split, but little is known about the cluster's detailed chemical composition. Therefore, we have used high-resolution spectra from the Magellan-M2FS and VLT-FLAMES spectrographs to investigate the chemical compositions and radial velocity distributions of red giant branch and HB stars in NGC 6569. We found the cluster to have a mean heliocentric radial velocity of -48.8 km/s (sigma = 5.3 km/s; 148 stars) and a mean [Fe/H] =-0.87 dex (19 stars), but the cluster's 0.05 dex [Fe/H] dispersion precludes a significant metallicity spread. NGC 6569 exhibits light- and heavy-element distributions that are common among old bulge/inner Galaxy globular clusters, including clear (anti)correlations between [O/Fe], [Na/Fe], and [Al/Fe]. The light-element data suggest that NGC 6569 may be composed of at least two distinct populations, and the cluster's low mean [La/Eu] = -0.11 dex indicates significant pollution with r-process material. We confirm that both HBs contain cluster members, but metallicity and light-element variations are largely ruled out as sources for the luminosity difference. However, He mass fraction differences as small as delta Y ~ 0.02 cannot be ruled out and may be sufficient to reproduce the double HB., Comment: 72 pages, 14 figures, 8 tables; published in The Astronomical Journal; electronic versions of all tables are available in the published version

We present a spectroscopic survey of high-redshift, luminous galaxies over four square degrees on the sky, aiming to build a large and homogeneous sample of Ly$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs) at $z\approx5.7$ and 6.5, and Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at $5.5

We report the results of a pilot program to use the Magellan/M2FS spectrograph to survey the galactic populations and internal kinematics of galaxy clusters. For this initial study, we present spectroscopic measurements for $223$ quiescent galaxies observed along the line of sight to the galaxy cluster Abell 267 ($z\sim0.23$). We develop a Bayesian method for modeling the integrated light from each galaxy as a simple stellar population, with free parameters that specify redshift ($v_\mathrm{los}/c$) and characteristic age, metallicity ($\mathrm{[Fe/H]}$), alpha-abundance ($[\alpha/\mathrm{Fe}]$), and internal velocity dispersion ($\sigma_\mathrm{int}$) for individual galaxies. Parameter estimates derived from our 1.5-hour observation of A267 have median random errors of $\sigma_{v_\mathrm{los}}=20\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$, $\sigma_{\mathrm{Age}}=1.2\ \mathrm{Gyr}$, $\sigma_{\mathrm{[Fe/H]}}=0.11\ \mathrm{dex}$, $\sigma_{[\alpha/\mathrm{Fe}]}=0.07\ \mathrm{dex}$, and $\sigma_{\sigma_\mathrm{int}}=20\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. In a companion paper, we use these results to model the structure and internal kinematics of A267., Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

We present results from high resolution optical spectra toward 66 young stars in the Orion B molecular cloud to study their kinematics and other properties. Observations of the H$\alpha$ and Li I 6707 {\AA} lines are used to check membership and accretion properties. While the stellar radial velocities of in NGC 2068 and L1622 show good agreement with that of the molecular gas, many of the stars in NGC 2024 show a considerable offset. This could be a signature of either expansion of the cluster, high degree of the ejection of the stars from the cluster through the dynamical interaction, or the acceleration of the gas due to stellar feedback., Comment: Accepted to ApJ; 8 pages, 9 figures

We present an exhaustive census of Lyman alpha (Ly$\alpha$) emission in the general galaxy population at $37$., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; Figure 3 updated

NGC 5986 is a poorly studied but relatively massive Galactic globular cluster that shares several physical and morphological characteristics with "iron-complex" clusters known to exhibit significant metallicity and heavy element dispersions. In order to determine if NGC 5986 joins the iron-complex cluster class, we investigated the chemical composition of 25 red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch cluster stars using high resolution spectra obtained with the Magellan-M2FS instrument. Cluster membership was verified using a combination of radial velocity and [Fe/H] measurements, and we found the cluster to have a mean heliocentric radial velocity of +99.76 km s^-1 (sigma = 7.44 km s^-1). We derived a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = -1.54 dex (sigma = 0.08 dex), but the cluster's small dispersion in [Fe/H] and low [La/Eu] abundance preclude it from being an iron-complex cluster. NGC 5986 has <[Eu/Fe]> = +0.76 dex (sigma = 0.08 dex), which is among the highest ratios detected in a Galactic cluster. NGC 5986 exhibits classical globular cluster characteristics, such as uniformly enhanced [alpha/Fe] ratios, a small dispersion in Fe-peak abundances, and (anti-)correlated light element variations. Similar to NGC 2808, we find evidence that NGC 5986 may host at least 4-5 populations with distinct light element compositions, and the presence of a clear Mg-Al anti-correlation along with an Al-Si correlation suggests that the cluster gas experienced processing at temperatures >65-70 MK. However, the current data do not support burning temperatures exceeding ~100 MK. We find some evidence that the first and second generation stars in NGC 5986 may be fully spatially mixed, which could indicate that the cluster has lost a significant fraction of its original mass. [abridged], Comment: ApJ, In press; 52 pages; 14 figures; 6 tables

In this work, we show how the stellar mass (M) of galaxies affects the 3

We present a multiplexed, high-resolution (R~50,000 median) spectroscopic survey designed to detect exoplanet candidates in two southern star clusters (NGC 2516 and NGC 2422) using the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) on the Magellan/Clay telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. With 128 available fibers in our observing mode, we are able to target every star in the core half-degree of each cluster that could plausibly be a solar-analog member. Our template-based spectral fits provide precise measurements of fundamental stellar properties - $T_{eff}$ ($\pm$30 K), [Fe/H] and [$\alpha$/Fe] ($\pm$0.02 dex), and $v_r\sin(i)$ ($\pm$0.3 km/s) - and radial velocities (RVs) by using telluric absorption features from 7160 to 7290 $\AA$ as a wavelength reference for 251 mid-F to mid-K stars (126 in NGC 2516 and 125 in NGC 2422) that comprise our survey. In each cluster we have obtained ~10-12 epochs of our targets. Using repeat observations of an RV standard star we show our approach can attain a single-epoch velocity precision of 25 m/s to 60 m/s over a broad range of S/N throughout our observational baseline of 1.1 years. Our technique is suitable for non-rapidly rotating stars cooler than mid-F. In this paper we describe our observational sample, analysis methodology, and present a detailed study of the attainable precision and measurement capabilities of our approach. Subsequent papers will provide results for stars observed in the target clusters, analyze our dataset of RV time-series for stellar jitter and stellar and sub-stellar companions, and consider the implications of our findings on the clusters themselves., Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

The ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Reticulum 2 (Ret 2) was recently discovered in images obtained by the Dark Energy Survey. We have observed the four brightest red giants in Ret 2 at high spectral resolution using the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System. We present detailed abundances for as many as 20 elements per star, including 12 elements heavier than the Fe group. We confirm previous detection of high levels of r-process material in Ret 2 (mean [Eu/Fe]=+1.69+/-0.05) found in three of these stars (mean [Fe/H]=-2.88+/-0.10). The abundances closely match the r-process pattern found in the well-studied metal-poor halo star CS22892-052. Such r-process-enhanced stars have not been found in any other ultra-faint dwarf galaxy, though their existence has been predicted by at least one model. The fourth star in Ret 2 ([Fe/H]=-3.42+/-0.20) contains only trace amounts of Sr ([Sr/Fe]=-1.73+/-0.43) and no detectable heavier elements. One r-process enhanced star is also enhanced in C (natal [C/Fe]=+1.1). This is only the third such star known, which suggests that the nucleosynthesis sites leading to C and r-process enhancements are decoupled. The r-process-deficient star is enhanced in Mg ([Mg/Fe]=+0.81+/-0.14), and the other three stars show normal levels of alpha-enhancement (mean [Mg/Fe]=+0.34+/-0.03). The abundances of other alpha and Fe-group elements closely resemble those in ultra-faint dwarf galaxies and metal-poor halo stars, suggesting that the nucleosynthesis that led to the large r-process enhancements either produced no light elements or produced light-element abundance signatures indistinguishable from normal supernovae., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 12 pages, 6 figures, 8 tables

We present results from spectroscopic observations with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) of $147$ stellar targets along the line of sight to the newly-discovered `ultrafaint' stellar systems Tucana 2 (Tuc 2) and Grus 1 (Gru 1). Based on simultaneous estimates of line-of-sight velocity and stellar-atmospheric parameters, we identify 8 and 7 stars as probable members of Tuc 2 and and Gru 1, respectively. Our sample for Tuc 2 is sufficient to resolve an internal velocity dispersion of $8.6_{-2.7}^{+4.4}$ km s$^{-1}$ about a mean of $-129.1_{-3.5}^{+3.5}$ km s$^{-1}$ (solar rest frame), and to estimate a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]= $-2.23_{-0.12}^{+0.18}$. These results place Tuc 2 on chemodynamical scaling relations followed by dwarf galaxies, suggesting a dominant dark matter component with dynamical mass $2.7_{-1.3}^{+3.1}\times 10^6$ $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ enclosed within the central $\sim 160$ pc, and dynamical mass-to-light ratio $1900_{-900}^{+2200}$ $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}/L_{V,\odot}$. For Gru 1 we estimate a mean velocity of $-140.5_{-1.6}^{+2.4}$ km s$^{-1}$ and a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=$-1.42_{-0.42}^{+0.55}$, but our sample does not resolve Gru 1's velocity dispersion. The radial coordinates of Tuc 2 and Gru 1 in Galactic phase space suggest that their orbits are among the most energetic within distance $\leq 300$ kpc. Moreover, their proximity to each other in this space arises naturally if both objects are trailing the Large Magellanic Cloud., Comment: replaced with ApJ-accepted version, all spectra and data products (including samples from posterior PDFs) are available at http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mgwalker/tuc2gru1_dataproducts.tar.gz

We measure the photometric rotation periods of the components of multiple systems in young stellar associations to investigate the causes of the observed rotation period dispersion. We present the case of the wide binary AG Tri in the 23-Myr young beta Pictoris Association consisting of K4 + M1 dwarfs. Our multi-band, multi-season photometric monitoring allowed us to measure the rotation periods of both components P_A = 12.4d and P_B = 4.66d, to detect a prominent magnetic activity in the photosphere, likely responsible for the measured radial velocity variations, and for the first time, a flare event on the M1 component AG Tri B. We investigate either the possibility that the faster rotating component may have suffered an enhanced primordial disc dispersal, starting its PMS spin-up earlier than the slower rotating component, or the possibility that the formation of a debris disc may have prevented AG Tri A from gaining part of the angular momentum from the accreting disc., Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science 2015, (ASTR-D-15-00445R2)

We present radial velocities, stellar parameters, and detailed abundances of 39 elements derived from high-resolution spectroscopic observations of red giant stars in the luminous, metal-poor globular cluster NGC 5824. We observe 26 stars in NGC 5824 using the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) and two stars using the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle (MIKE) spectrograph. We derive a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.94+/-0.02 (statistical) +/-0.10 (systematic). The metallicity dispersion of this sample of stars, 0.08 dex, is in agreement with previous work and does not exceed the expected observational errors. Previous work suggested an internal metallicity spread only when fainter samples of stars were considered, so we cannot exclude the possibility of an intrinsic metallicity dispersion in NGC 5824. The M2FS spectra reveal a large internal dispersion in [Mg/Fe], 0.28 dex, which is found in a few other luminous, metal-poor clusters. [Mg/Fe] is correlated with [O/Fe] and anti-correlated with [Na/Fe] and [Al/Fe]. There is no evidence for internal dispersion among the other alpha- or Fe-group abundance ratios. Twenty-five of the 26 stars exhibit a n-capture enrichment pattern dominated by r-process nucleosynthesis ([Eu/Fe]=+0.11+/-0.12; [Ba/Eu]=-0.66+/-0.05). Only one star shows evidence of substantial s-process enhancement ([Ba/Fe]=+0.56+/-0.12; [Ba/Eu]=+0.38+/-0.14), but this star does not exhibit other characteristics associated with s-process enhancement via mass-transfer from a binary companion. The Pb and other heavy elements produced by the s-process suggest a timescale of no more than a few hundred Myr for star formation and chemical enrichment, like the complex globular clusters M2, M22, and NGC 5286., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. (26 pages, 18 figures, 9 tables including online data)

The globular cluster H4, located in the center of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy, is crucial for understanding the formation and chemical evolution of star clusters in low-mass galactic environments. H4 is peculiar because the cluster is significantly more metal-rich than the galaxy's other clusters, is located near the galaxy center, and may also be the youngest cluster in the galaxy. In this study, we present detailed chemical abundances derived from high-resolution (R~28000) spectroscopy of an isolated H4 member star for comparison with a sample of 22 nearby Fornax field stars. We find the H4 member to be depleted in the alpha-elements Si, Ca, and Ti with [Si/Fe]=-0.35+-0.34, [Ca/Fe]=+0.05+-0.08, and [Ti/Fe]=-0.27+-0.23, resulting in an average [alpha/Fe]=-0.19+-0.14. If this result is representative of the average cluster properties, H4 is the only known system with a low [alpha/Fe] ratio and a moderately low metallicity embedded in an intact birth environment. For the field stars we find a clear sequence, seen as an early depletion in [alpha/Fe] at low metallicities, in good agreement with previous measurements. H4 falls on top of the observed field star [alpha/Fe] sequence and clearly disagrees with the properties of Milky Way halo stars. We therefore conclude that within a galaxy, the chemical enrichment of globular clusters may be closely linked to the enrichment pattern of the field star population. The low [alpha/Fe] ratios of H4 and similar metallicity field stars in Fornax give evidence that slow chemical enrichment environments, such as dwarf galaxies, may be the original hosts of alpha-depleted clusters in the halos of the Milky Way and M31., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 3 tables in Appendix, accepted for publication in A&A

A combined effort utilizing spectroscopy and photometry has revealed the existence of a new globular cluster class. These "anomalous" clusters, which we refer to as "iron-complex" clusters, are differentiated from normal clusters by exhibiting large (>0.10 dex) intrinsic metallicity dispersions, complex sub-giant branches, and correlated [Fe/H] and s-process enhancements. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, we have measured radial velocities and chemical abundances for red giant branch stars in the massive, but scarcely studied, globular cluster NGC 6273. The velocities and abundances were determined using high resolution (R~27,000) spectra obtained with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) and MSpec spectrograph on the Magellan-Clay 6.5m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We find that NGC 6273 has an average heliocentric radial velocity of +144.49 km s^-1 (sigma=9.64 km s^-1) and an extended metallicity distribution ([Fe/H]=-1.80 to -1.30) composed of at least two distinct stellar populations. Although the two dominant populations have similar [Na/Fe], [Al/Fe], and [alpha/Fe] abundance patterns, the more metal-rich stars exhibit significant [La/Fe] enhancements. The [La/Eu] data indicate that the increase in [La/Fe] is due to almost pure s-process enrichment. A third more metal-rich population with low [X/Fe] ratios may also be present. Therefore, NGC 6273 joins clusters such as omega centauri, M 2, M 22, and NGC 5286 as a new class of iron-complex clusters exhibiting complicated star formation histories., Comment: Accepted for Publication in The Astronomical Journal; 20 pages; 16 figures; 5 tables

We present results from spectroscopic observations with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) of 182 stellar targets along the line of sight to the newly-discovered `ultrafaint' object Reticulum 2 (Ret 2). For 38 of these targets, the spectra are sufficient to provide simultaneous estimates of line-of-sight velocity ($v_{\rm los}$, median random error $\delta_{v_{\rm los}}=1.3$ km s$^{-1}$), effective temperature ($T_{\rm eff}$, $\delta_{T_{\rm eff}}=464$ K), surface gravity ($\log g$, $\delta_{\rm logg}=0.54$ dex) and iron abundance ([Fe/H], $\delta_{\mathrm{[Fe/H]}}=0.45$ dex). We use these results to confirm 18 stars as members of Ret 2. From the member sample we estimate a velocity dispersion of $\sigma_{v_{\rm los}}=3.6_{-0.6}^{+0.9}$ km s$^{-1}$ about a mean of $\langle v_{\rm los}\rangle =64.8_{-1.0}^{+1.1}$ km s$^{-1}$ in the solar rest frame ($\sim -90.9$ km s$^{-1}$ in the Galactic rest frame), and a metallicity dispersion of $\sigma_{\rm [Fe/H]}=0.50_{-0.13}^{+0.17}$ dex about a mean of $\langle \mathrm{[Fe/H]} \rangle =-2.67_{-0.34}^{+0.34}$. These estimates marginalize over possible velocity and metallicity gradients, which are consistent with zero. Our results place Ret 2 on chemodynamical scaling relations followed by the Milky Way's dwarf-galactic satellites. Under assumptions of dynamic equilibrium and negligible contamination from binary stars---both of which must be checked with deeper imaging and repeat spectroscopic observations---the estimated velocity dispersion suggests a dynamical mass of $M(R_{\rm h})\approx 5R_{\rm h}\sigma_{v_{\rm los}}^2/(2G)=2.4_{-0.8}^{+1.3}\times 10^5$ $M_{\odot}$ enclosed within projected halflight radius $R_{\rm h}\sim 32$ pc, with mass-to-light ratio $\approx 2M(R_{\rm h})/L_{\rm V}=462_{-157}^{+264}$ in solar units., Comment: submitted to The Astrophysical Journal

We present a carefully vetted equatorial ($\pm$ 30$^\circ$ Decl.) sample of all known single (within 4'') mid M-dwarfs (M2.5V-M8.0V) extending out to 10 pc; their proximity and low masses make them ideal targets for planet searches. For this sample of 58 stars, we provide V$_J$, R$_{KC}$, I$_{KC}$ photometry, new low dispersion optical ($6000 - 9000$\AA) spectra from which uniform spectral types are determined, multi-epoch H$\alpha$ equivalent widths, and gravity sensitive $Na\,I$ indices. For 12 of these 58 stars, strict limits are placed on the presence of stellar and sub-stellar companions, based on a pioneering program described here that utilizes precise infrared radial velocities and optical astrometric measurements in an effort to search for Jupiter-mass, brown dwarf and stellar-mass companions. Our infrared radial velocity precision using CSHELL at NASA's IRTF is $\sim$90 m s$^{-1}$ over timescales from 13 days to 5 years. With our spectroscopic results the mean companion masses that we rule out of existence are 1.5 M$_{JUP}$ or greater in 10 day orbital periods and 7 M$_{JUP}$ or greater in 100 day orbital periods. We use these spectra to determine rotational velocities and absolute radial velocities of these twelve stars. Our mean astrometric precision using RECONS data from 0.9-m telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory is $\sim$3 milli-arcseconds over baselines ranging from 9 to 13 years. With our astrometric results the mean companion masses that we rule out of existence are greater than 11.5 M$_{JUP}$ with an orbital period of 4 years and greater than 7.5 M$_{JUP}$ with an orbital period of 8 years. Although we do not detect companions around our sub-sample of 12 stars, we demonstrate that our two techniques probe a regime that is commonly missed in other companion searches of late type stars., Comment: 37 pages, 16 figures

A recent analysis comparing the [Na/Fe] distributions of red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6752 found that the ratio of Na-poor to Na-rich stars changes from 30:70 on the RGB to 100:0 on the AGB. The surprising paucity of Na-rich stars on the AGB in NGC 6752 warrants additional investigations to determine if the failure of a significant fraction of stars to ascend the AGB is an attribute common to all globular clusters. Therefore, we present radial velocities, [Fe/H], and [Na/Fe] abundances for 35 AGB stars in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae (47 Tuc; NGC 104), and compare the AGB [Na/Fe] distribution with a similar RGB sample published previously. The abundances and velocities were derived from high resolution spectra obtained with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) and MSpec spectrograph on the Magellan-Clay 6.5m telescope. We find the average heliocentric radial velocity and [Fe/H] values to be =-18.56 km s^-1 (sigma=10.21 km s^-1) and <[Fe/H]>=-0.68 (sigma=0.08), respectively, in agreement with previous literature estimates. The average [Na/Fe] abundance is 0.12 dex lower in the 47 Tuc AGB sample compared to the RGB sample, and the ratio of Na-poor to Na-rich stars is 63:37 on the AGB and 45:55 on the RGB. However, in contrast to NGC 6752, the two 47 Tuc populations have nearly identical [Na/Fe] dispersion and interquartile range values. The data presented here suggest that only a small fraction <20% of Na-rich stars in 47 Tuc may fail to ascend the AGB. Regardless of the cause for the lower average [Na/Fe] abundance in AGB stars, we find that Na-poor stars and at least some Na-rich stars in 47 Tuc evolve through the early AGB phase. [abridged], Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal; 15 pages; 8 figures; 4 tables

We report new infrared radial velocity measurements obtained with CSHELL at NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility that reveal the M3.5 dwarf GJ 867B to be a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a period of 1.795 $\pm$ 0.017 days. Its velocity semi-amplitude of 21.4 $\pm$ 0.5 km s$^{-1}$ corresponds to a minimum mass of 61 $\pm$ 7 M$_{JUP}$; the new companion, which we call GJ 867D, could be a brown dwarf. Stable astrometric measurements of GJ 867BD obtained with CTIO's 0.9-m telescope over the last decade exclude the presence of any massive planetary companions (7-18 M$_{JUP}$) with longer orbital periods (2-10 years) for the majority of orientations. These complementary observations are also used to determine the trigonometric distance and proper motion of GJ 867BD; the measurements are consistent with the HIPPARCOS measured values of the M2 dwarf GJ 867AC, which is itself a 4.1 day double-lined spectroscopic binary at a projected separation of 24.5" (216 AU) from GJ 867BD. These new measurements strengthen the case that GJ 867AC and GJ 867BD are physically associated, making the GJ 867 system one of only four quadruple systems within 10 pc of the Sun (d$=$ 8.82 $\pm$0.08 pc) and the only among these with all M-dwarf (or cooler) components., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, accepted to AJ

We present a high-precision infrared radial velocity study of late-type stars using spectra obtained with NIRSPEC at the W. M. Keck Observatory. Radial velocity precisions of 50 m/s are achieved for old field mid-M dwarfs using telluric features for precise wavelength calibration. Using this technique, 20 young stars in the {\beta} Pic (age ~12 Myr) and TW Hya (age ~8 Myr) Associations were monitored over several years to search for low mass companions; we also included the chromospherically active field star GJ 873 (EV Lac) in this survey. Based on comparisons with previous optical observations of these young active stars, radial velocity measurements at infrared wavelengths mitigate the radial velocity noise caused by star spots by a factor of ~3. Nevertheless, star spot noise is still the dominant source of measurement error for young stars at 2.3 {\mu}m, and limits the precision to ~77 m/s for the slowest rotating stars (v sin i < 6 km/s), increasing to ~168 m/s for rapidly rotating stars (v sin i > 12 km/s). The observations reveal both GJ 3305 and TWA 23 to be single-lined spectroscopic binaries; in the case of GJ 3305, the motion is likely caused by its 0.09" companion, identified after this survey began. The large amplitude, short-timescale variations of TWA 13A are indicative of a hot Jupiter-like companion, but the available data are insufficient to confirm this. We label it as a candidate radial velocity variable. For the remainder of the sample, these observations exclude the presence of any 'hot' (P < 3 days) companions more massive than 8 MJup, and any 'warm' (P < 30 days) companions more massive than 17 MJup, on average. Assuming an edge-on orbit for the edge-on disk system AU Mic, these observations exclude the presence of any hot Jupiters more massive than 1.8 MJup or warm Jupiters more massive than 3.9 MJup., Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. 18 pages, 7 figures