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Our goal is to investigate the spiral structure of the Northern Galactic plane using as tracers the classical Be stars detected by INT Photometric H$\alpha$ Survey (IPHAS). IPHAS scans the $29^o

According to recent theoretical studies, the progenitors of Long Gamma Ray Bursts should be very fast rotating stars, massive enough but not so for collapsing into a black hole. In addition, recent observations seem to show that stars of about 20 solar masses could be at the origin of LGRBs. At low metallicity B-type stars rotate faster than at higher metallicity. We found with the ESO-WFI an occurrence of Be/Oe stars, that are quasi critical rotators, 3 to 5 times larger in the SMC than in the Galaxy. According to our results, and using observational clues on the SMC WR stars, as well as the theoretical predictions of the characteristics must have the LGRB progenitors, we have identified the low metallicity massive Be/Oe stars as potential LGRB progenitors. To support this identification, the expected rates and the numbers of LGRB were then calculated and compared to the observed ones: 3 to 6 LGRBs were found in the local universe in 11 years while 8 were actually observed., Comment: proceedings of GRBs as probes conference, Como, Italy 2011

Several studies have shown recently that at low metallicity B-type stars rotate faster than in environments of high metallicity. This is a typical case in the SMC. As a consequence, it is expected that a larger number of fast rotators is found in the SMC than in the Galaxy, in particular a higher fraction of Be/Oe stars. Using the ESO-WFI in its slitless mode, the data from the SMC open clusters were examined and an occurrence of Be stars 3 to 5 times larger than in the Galaxy was found. The evolution of the angular rotational velocity at different metallicities seems to be the main key to understand the specific behavior and evolution of these stars. According to the results from this WFI study, the observational clues obtained from the SMC WR stars and massive stars, and the theoretical predictions of the characteristics must have the long gamma-ray burst progenitors, we have identified the low metallicity massive Be and Oe stars as potential LGRB progenitors. To this end, the ZAMS rotational velocities of the SMC Be/Oe stars were determined and compared to models. The expected rates and the numbers of LGRB were then calculated and compared to the observed ones. Thus, a high probability was found that low metallicity Be/Oe stars can be LGRB progenitors. In this document, we describe the different steps followed in these studies: determination of the number of Be/Oe stars at different metallicities, identification of the clues that lead to suppose the low metallicity Be/Oe stars as LGRB progenitors, comparison of models with observations., Comment: Talk at the 39th LIAC, submitted version of the proceedings

At low metallicity the B-type stars rotate faster than at higher metallicity, typically in the SMC. As a consequence, it was expected a larger number of fast rotators in the SMC than in the Galaxy, in particular more Be/Oe stars. With the ESO-WFI in its slitless mode, the SMC open clusters were examined and an occurence of Be stars 3 to 5 times larger than in the Galaxy was found. The evolution of the angular rotational velocity seems to be the main key on the understanding of the specific behaviour and of the stellar evolution of such stars at different metallicities. With the results of this WFI study and using observational clues on the SMC WR stars and massive stars, as well as the theoretical indications of long gamma-ray burst progenitors, we identify the low metallicity massive Be and Oe stars as potential LGRB progenitors. Therefore the expected rates and numbers of LGRB are calculated and compared to the observed ones, leading to a good probability that low metallicity Be/Oe stars are actually LGRB progenitors., Comment: poster at IAUS272

Thanks to a variety of pertinent wide-angle facilities (WFI-slitless mode, VLT-FLAMES (Pasquini et al. 2002), SPITZER, 2MASS) it is possible to comprehensively study the nature of early-type objects in star-forming regions like the Eagle Nebula and Carina on large spatial scales. In them, the young open clusters NGC 6611, Trumpler 14, Trumpler 15, Trumpler 16, and their vicinities are of particular interest. With the WFI in its slitless mode (Baade et al. 1999), one can reliably and with little extra effort discriminate in thousands of spectra between intrinsic circumstellar emission as in HBe/Ae stars and diffuse interstellar line emission. The only bias results from the need of the equivalent width and absolute strength of the line emission to be sufficient for detection. VLT-FLAMES spectra combined with infrared data from SPITZER and 2MASS permit the nature of the objects with and without emission-lines to be derived. Following this approach, we report on the discovery and classification of new Herbig Be/Ae stars, pre-main sequence objects, and main sequence stars in these regions. Based on line-width measurements in VLT-FLAMES spectra, the evolution of the rotational velocities between pre-main sequence and main sequence phases is also discussed., Comment: Proceedings corresponding to poster 581 from the Special Session 7 about young stellar objects at the IAU-GA 2009

This paper checks on the roles of metallicity and evolutionary age in the appearance of the so-called Be phenomenon. Slitless CCD spectra were obtained covering the bulk of the Small Magellanic Cloud. For Halpha line emission twice as strong as the ambient continuum, the survey is complete to spectral type B2/B3 on the main sequence. About 8120 spectra of 4437 stars were searched for emission lines in 84 open clusters. 370 emission-line stars were found, among them at least 231 near the main sequence. For 176 of them, photometry could be found in the OGLE database. For comparison with a higher-metallicity environment, the Galactic sample of the photometric Halpha survey by McSwain & Gies (2005) was used. Among early spectral sub-types, Be stars are more frequent by a factor 3-5 in the SMC than in the Galaxy. The distribution with spectral type is similar in both galaxies, i.e. not strongly dependent on metallicity. The fraction of Be stars does not seem to vary with local star density. The Be phenomenon mainly sets in towards the end of the main-sequence evolution (this trend may be more pronounced in the SMC); but some Be stars already form with Be-star characteristics. In all probability, the fractional critical angular rotation rate, \omc, is one of the main parameters governing the occurrence of the Be phenomenon. If the Be character is only acquired during the course of evolution, the key circumstance is the evolution of \omc, which not only is dependent on metallicity but differently so for different mass ranges., Comment: Accepted by A&A, language correction not yet done. Short version of the abstract

This document presents the results from our spectroscopic survey of Halpha emitters in galactic and SMC open clusters with the ESO Wide Field Imager in its slitless spectroscopic mode. First of all, for the galactic open cluster NGC6611, in which, the number and the nature of emission line stars is still the object of debates, we show that the number of true circumstellar emission line stars is small. Second, at low metallicity, typically in the Small Magellanic Cloud, B-type stars rotate faster than in the Milky Way and thus it is expected a larger number of Be stars. However, till now, search for Be stars was only performed in a very small number of open clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. Using the ESO/WFI in its slitless spectroscopic mode, we performed a Halpha survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud. 3 million low-resolution spectra centered on Halpha were obtained in the whole SMC. Here, we present the method to exploit the data and first results for 84 open clusters in the SMC about the ratios of Be stars to B stars., Comment: proceedings SF2A2008, PNPS session

At low metallicity, B-type stars show lower loss of mass and, therefore, angular momentum so that it is expected that there are more Be stars in the Magellanic Clouds than in the Milky Way. However, till now, searches for Be stars were only performed in a very small number of open clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. Using the ESO/WFI in its slitless spectroscopic mode, we performed a Halpha survey of the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud. Eight million low-resolution spectra centered on Halpha were obtained. For their automatic analysis, we developed the ALBUM code. Here, we present the observations, the method to exploit the data and first results for 84 open clusters in the SMC. In particular, cross-correlating our catalogs with OGLE positional and photometric data, we classified more than 4000 stars and were able to find the B and Be stars in them. We show the evolution of the rates of Be stars as functions of area density, metallicity, spectral type, and age., Comment: talk at IAUS256

To study the variability of the 523 B and Be stars observed in the Magellanic clouds with the VLT-FLAMES, we cross-matched the stars of our sample with the photometric database MACHO, which provides for each star an 8 years lightcurve. We searched for long, medium, and short-term periodicity and found the eclipsing binaries in our sample. For these stars, combining, spectroscopy and photometry, we were able to provide information on several systems of stars (systemic velocities, ratios of masses, etc). We also present the ratios of B-binaries to B-non binaries in the LMC/SMC in comparison with the MW. Note that this ratio is also an important issue to understand the mechanism of star-formation at low metallicity. We also found the first multiperiodic B and Be stars in the SMC, in particular the first SMC Beta Cep and SPB, while, according to the models, pulsations were not foreseen in low metallicity environments, i.e. typically in the SMC. Our results show that the instability strips are shifted towards higher temperatures in comparison with the Milky Way' strips of pulsating B-type stars. By the fact that we found more pulsating Be stars than pulsating B stars in the SMC, it seems that the fast rotation favours the presence of pulsations. However, the ratio of pulsating B-type stars to "non"-pulsating B-type stars at low metallicity is lower than at high metallicity., Comment: poster IAUS256

An important question about Be stars is whether Be stars are born as Be stars or not. It is necessary to observe young clusters to answer this question. Observations of stars in NGC6611 and the star-formation region of Eagle Nebula have been carried out with the ESO-WFI in slitless spectroscopic mode and at the VLT-GIRAFFE. The targets for the GIRAFFE observations were pre-selected from the literature and our catalogue of emission-line stars (ELS) based on the WFI study. GIRAFFE observations allowed us to study accurately the population of the early-type stars with and without emission lines. For this study, we determined the fundamental parameters of OBA stars. We also studied the status of the objects (main sequence or pre-main sequence stars) by using IR data, membership probabilities, and location in HR diagrams. The nature of the early-type ELS in M16 is derived. The slitless observations with the WFI clearly indicate a small number of ELS in M16. We observed with GIRAFFE 101 OBA stars, among them 9 are ELS with circumstellar emission in Halpha. We found that: W080 could be a new He-strong star, like W601. W301 is a possible classical Be star, W503 is a mass-transfer eclipsing binary with an accretion disk, and the other ones are possible Herbig Ae/Be stars. We also found that the rotational velocities of main sequence B stars are 18% lower than those of pre-main sequence B stars, in good agreement with theory about the evolution of rotational velocities. Combining different indications and technics, we found that 27% of the B-type stars are binaries. We also redetermined the age of NGC6611 found equal to 1.2--1.8 Myears in good agreement with the most recent determinations., Comment: Accepted by A&A, english not yet corrected

We present new results obtained with the VLT GIRAFFE for a large sample of B and Be stars belonging to the Magellanic Clouds, i.e. at low metallicity. First, we show the effects of the metallicity of the environment on their rotation (linear, angular, and at the ZAMS). Second, we present the analysis of the effects of metallicity and evolution on the appearance of Be stars. We also new present results about the proportions of Be stars to B stars. Third, by cross-correlation with large photometric surveys such as MACHO and OGLE, we report on the detection for the first time of short-term multi-periodicity in 9 Be stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud, which can be interpreted in terms of pulsations., Comment: sf2a 2007 PNPS

The number and the nature of emission line stars in the young open cluster NGC6611 is still the object of debates. Due to the presence of a strong and variable nebulosity in the cluster, the number of emission line stars is highly depending on the technique and the resolution used for the observations. Thanks to observations with the ESO-WFI, in slitless spectroscopic mode, and with the VLT-GIRAFFE we have been able to disentangle the circumstellar and nebular emissions. We confirm the small number of true emission line objects and we precise their nature: mainly Herbig Be stars., Comment: Sf2a 2007 PNPS

Observations of hot stars belonging to the young cluster SMC-NGC330 and its surrounding region were obtained with the VLT-GIRAFFE facilities in MEDUSA mode. We investigated the B and Be star properties and proportions in this environment of low metallicity. We also searched for rapid variability in Be stars using photometric databases. With spectroscopic measurements we characterized the emission and properties of Be stars. By cross-correlation with photometric databases such as MACHO and OGLE, we searched for binaries in our sample of hot stars, as well as for short-term variability in Be stars. We report on the global characteristics of the Be star sample (131 objects). We find that the proportion of early Be stars with a large equivalent width of the Halpha emission line is higher in the SMC than in the LMC and MW. We find a slight increase in the proportion of Be stars compared to B-type stars with decreasing metallicity. We also discovered spectroscopic and photometric binaries, and for the latter we give their orbital period. We identify 13 Be stars with short-term variability. We determine their period(s) and find that 9 Be stars are multiperiodic., Comment: english not yet corrected, 23 pages, 4th article about the study in the LMC NGC2004 and SMC NGC330

ALBUM is a general-purpose tool to visualize and screen large amounts of slitless spectra. It was developed for a search for emission-line stars in SMC and LMC clusters. The observations were obtained with ESO's Wide Field Imager (WFI) and comprise ~8 million low-resolution spectra. The tool as well as the results of its application to the SMC part of the database are presented. The inferred frequency of Be stars is compared to the one in the higher-metallicity environment of the Milky Way., Comment: The 2007 ESO instrument calibration workshop, Garching bei Muenchen : Allemagne (2007); 4 pages

We report on the study of the population of B and Be stars in SMC young clusters, performed with the Wide Field Imager in slitless spectroscopic mode at ESO/T2.2m with a filter centered at Halpha. First, we explain the reduction methods we used and our selection of different types of objects. Second, we present results on the proportion of Be stars in SMC clusters, and we compare this proportion to the one observed in the Milky Way. Finally, we also present results on a statistical study of variability of Be stars with OGLE., Comment: sf2a 2006

Observations of hot stars belonging to the young cluster LMC-NGC2004 and its surrounding region have been obtained with the VLT-GIRAFFE facilities in MEDUSA mode. 25 Be stars were discovered; the proportion of Be stars compared to B-type stars is found to be of the same order in the LMC and in the Galaxy fields. 23 hot stars were discovered as spectroscopic binaries (SB1 and SB2), 5 of these are found to be eclipsing systems from the MACHO database, with periods of a few days. About 75% of the spectra in our sample are polluted by hydrogen (Halpha and Hgamma), [SII] and [NII] nebular lines. These lines are typical of HII regions. They could be associated with patchy nebulosities with a bi-modal distribution in radial velocity, with higher values (+335 kms^{-1}) preferentially seen inside the southern part of the known bubble LMC4 observed in HI at 21 cm., Comment: 12 pages, 17 figures, accepted to A&A

EXO 2030+375, a 42-second transient X-ray pulsar with a Be star companion, has been observed to undergo an outburst at nearly every periastron passage for the last 13.5 years. From 1994 through 2002, the global trend in the pulsar spin frequency was spin-down. Using RXTE data from 2003 September, we have observed a transition to global spin-up in EXO 2030+375. Although the spin frequency observations are sparse, the relative spin-up between 2002 June and 2003 September observations, along with an overall brightening of the outbursts since mid 2002 observed with the RXTE ASM, accompanied by an increase in density of the Be disk, indicated by infrared magnitudes, suggest that the pattern observed with BATSE of a roughly constant spin frequency, followed by spin-up, followed by spin-down is repeating. If so this pattern has approximately an 11 year period, similar to the 15 +/- 3 year period derived by Wilson et al. (2002) for the precession period of a one-armed oscillation in the Be disk. If this pattern is indeed repeating, we predict a transition from spin-up to spin-down in 2005., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 4 pages, 5 figures, using emulateapj.cls

We present a photometric survey aimed to characterize the Be star population of young open clusters. It is found that in these clusters early-type Be stars are more frequent than in the galactic field, and late-type Be stars are scarce or inexistent. We interpret this result as evidence for an evolutionary enhancement of the Be phenomenon towards the end of the main sequence lifetime., Comment: 6 pages, to be published in ASP Conference Series "Interplay between periodic, cyclic and stochastic variability in selected areas of the H-R diagram", C. Sterken, Ed

We present a study of the abundance of Be stars in open clusters as a function of the cluster age, using whenever possible ages determined through Stromgren uvby photometry. For the first time in studies of this kind we have considered separately classical and Herbig Be stars. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1.- Clusters associated to emitting nebulosities and undergoing stellar formation are rich in emission line objects, which most likely are all pre-main sequence objects. No bona fide classical Be star has yet been identified among them. 2.- Clusters younger than 10 Myr and without associated nebulosity are almost completely lacking Be stars, despite they have a complete unevolved B main sequence. 3.- Classical Be stars appear at an age of 10 Myr, and reach the maximum abundance in the age interval 14-25 Myr. We interpret our results in the sense that the Be phenomenon is an evolutionary effect which appear in the second half of the main sequence lifetime of a B star. We propose that it can be related to main structural changes happening at this evolutionary phase, which also lead to the recently discovered non-monotonic helium abundance enhancement. The semiconvection or turbulent diffusion responsible of the surface helium enrichment, coupled with the high rotational velocity, can generate magnetic fields via the dynamo effect and thereby originate the Be phenomenon. Observational tests to this hypothesis are proposed., Comment: 8 pages, submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics

We present an empirical calibration of the uvby-beta photometric system to determine the intrinsic colours and indices and the astrophysical parameters of the underlying star, valid for Be stars earlier than B5. The procedure allows the determination of the interstellar reddening with an accuracy of 0.033 mag. (rms), and the absolute magnitude with an accuracy of 0.7 mag., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics

We report optical and infrared observations of the massive X-ray binary system 4U1145-619 (V801 Cen) which show that the circumstellar disc of the Be star component is in decline. Infrared J,H,K,L magnitudes of V801Cen have been monitored from 1993 March to 1996 April. H alpha spectra have been obtained throughout the same period. We find that both the infrared excess and the Balmer emission have been in decline throughout the period of observations. A 13 year optical and X-ray history of the source has been collated, revealing a possible correlation between the optical and X-ray activity. In addition, we have used u,v,b,y,beta indices, corrected for both circumstellar and interstellar effects, to calculate the physical parameters of the underlying B star., Comment: 8 pages postscript. Accepted by MNRAS