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OBSERVING PROGRAMMES OFFICE • Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße 2 • D-85748 Garching bei München • e-mail: opo@eso.org • Tel. : +49 89 320 06473

APPLICATION FOR OBSERVING TIME PERIOD: 99A

Important Notice:
By submitting this proposal, the PI takes full responsibility for the content of the proposal, in particular with regard to the
names of CoIs and the agreement to act according to the ESO policy and regulations, should observing time be granted.

1. Title Category: D–8

Bad weather proposal: spectroscopic follow-up of bright Hα emission/absorption line candidates in the Galactic
Bulge Survey

2. Abstract / Total Time Requested

Total Amount of Time:
We have performed a systematic search for sources showing photometric excess Hα emission/absorption line
signatures and blue outliers. We used deep optical imaging of the Galactic Bulge Survey fields in three filters:
r0 , i0 and Hα. The mean 5σ depth for point sources is r0 ∼ 22.5, i0 ∼ 21.1. Using (r0 – i0 , r0 – Hα) colour-
colour diagrams, we employ an iterative σ-clipped fitting procedure to identify the main loci of unreddened and
reddened sources, and distinguish the outliers from these populations. The resulting sample of outliers consists
of ∼ 2500 Hα emission line candidates, ∼ 2700 Hα absorption line candidates and ∼ 650 blue objects. This
sample likely contains a plethora of sources spanning all phases of stellar evolution, ranging from young stellar
objects to (binary) systems containing a compact object. We propose VLT+FORS2 spectroscopic follow-up of
the brightest candidates, to validate our selection procedures and probe the contents of the resulting sample.

3. Run Period Instrument Time Month Moon Seeing Sky Mode Type
A 99 FORS2 0.14h any n n THN s
B 99 FORS2 19h any n n THN s

4. Number of nights/hours Telescope(s) Amount of time

a) already awarded to this project:
b) still required to complete this project:

5. Special remarks:
This proposal is intended as a queue filler for bad weather conditions.

6. Principal Investigator: twevers

6a. Co-investigators:
M.A.P. Torres 1660
P.G. Jonker 1660
T.J. Maccarone 1744
R.I. Hynes 1471
Following CoIs moved to the end of the document ...

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7. Description of the proposed programme

A – Scientific Rationale: The Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS; Jonker et al. 2011, 2014) is a multiwavelength
project that relies on optical and near-infrared (NIR) classification of X-ray sources detected in the Galactic
bulge. It consists of Chandra observations of two 6◦ x 1◦ areas centered 1.5◦ above/below the Galactic plane
(see Fig. 1 of Wevers et al. 2016a), and a variety of multiwavelength follow-up among which are optical and
NIR photometric/variability surveys, and an optical/NIR spectroscopic classification survey. The main science
goals for the GBS include: i) by comparing the observed number of sources with model predictions in each
class, e.g., cataclysmic variables (CVs) and low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), we will primarily constrain the
nature of the common-envelope phase in binary evolution; ii) we will be able to identify and measure the mass
of the compact objects in X-ray binaries, e.g., quiescent eclipsing black hole and neutron star LMXBs.
Optical imaging of the GBS area: the complementary optical observations have been published earlier
this year (Wevers et al. 2016a) in the form of a catalogue of optical point sources in three filters: r0 , i0 and
Hα. The mean 5σ depth of the observations is r0 = 22.5, i0 = 21.1. The catalogue contains ∼ 8 million point
sources that are detected in all three filters. Using this catalogue we constructed (r0 – i0 , r0 – Hα) colour-colour
diagrams (CCDs) to identify potentially interesting sources with excess Hα emission/absorption compared to
normal main sequence (MS) stars (Wevers et al. about to be submitted). Using an iterative σ-clipped fitting
routine to identify the locus of the unreddened and reddened MS in each field, we identified sources that are
≥ 3σ outliers from the loci as potential Hα emission/absorption line sources (Figure 1.). Additionally we used
the r0 – i0 colour index to identify blue outliers with respect to field stars.
Spectroscopic validation of the photometrically selected sample: Applying our selection method to
the optical catalogue, we find a total of ∼ 2500 emission line candidates, ∼ 2700 absorption line candidates and
∼ 650 blue outliers towards the Galactic Bulge. To validate our selection criteria, spectroscopic observations are
needed to confirm the presence of excess Hα emission/absorption signatures in the spectrum of photometrically
selected sources. Similar optical surveys such as IPHAS, which covers the northern Galactic place (Drew et al.
2005; Barentsen et al. 2014) have uncovered a large diversity in source classes by searching for Hα emission
line candidates (Witham et al. 2008), ranging from (pre-)CVs over symbiotic stars and young stellar objects
to post-AGB stars (e.g. Vink et al. 2008, Corradi et al. 2008, Wright et al. 2008). However, our observations
are significantly deeper and moreover target the Bulge of our Galaxy, which implies that our sample will likely
have a different demographics.
For example, the Galactic Bulge hosts the nearest old stellar population. Many of the binary stars have by now
gone through one or two phases of common envelope evolution, which is still poorly understood (e.g. Ivanova et
al. 2012). The common envelope phase results in (close) binary systems such as CVs, AM CVn and subdwarf
O/B binaries. These sources have a relatively low intrinsic luminosity, hence the study of their population
properties is only viable in our own Galaxy. Any viable evolutionary scheme must be able to reproduce not
only the specific properties (such as component masses, orbital period, age, system velocity) of each observed
individual system, but also the distributions of and correlations between these properties in the population.
Another example of sources which we expect to find are symbiotic binary stars. These systems may well be
supernova Ia progenitors, so it is interesting to estimate the total number of such objects in our Galaxy (e.g.
Di Stefano 2010). A large fraction of symbiotic stars belong to an old stellar population and are expected to be
located in the Bulge (Munari & Renzini 1992).
Is there something to say about the time baseline between these observations and the VPHAS+
observations of the Bulge? Like finding high proper motion Hα emitters or something? Or
hypervelocity stars? Then precision astrometry between GBS and VPHAS+ could be good for
that ( 10 year baseline)
Multi-wavelength (time-resolved) coverage of the GBS area: The northern and southern parts of
the GBS area have been observed in r0 - and i0 -bands respectively, with a cadence of ∼4 times per night for 8
consecutive days. This provides temporal information on ∼hours – days timescales, which will help constrain the
nature of the sources. Additionally, the VVV survey provides variability information of the NIR counterparts.
Finally, the Bulge area has been extensively covered by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE),
providing lightcurves in the I-band with a baseline of ∼ 15 years to aid with the classification (e.g. the presence
of outbursts/eclipses or periodically modulated amplitude variations on long timescales).
Sample selection: We select all outliers that are brighter than r0 ≤ 18. This yields 115 Hα emission line
candidates, 61 Hα absorption line candidates and 111 blue outliers (Figure 2). These sources span practically
the whole parameter space covered by the total sample, and hence will give us a first idea about the total
content of our sample. Because the number of bright outliers is so large, we randomly select 25 sources for each
class (emission, absorption, blue), making sure that each part of the CCD is represented.

B – Immediate Objective: We aim to validate the photometric selection procedure of potentially interesting
Hα emission/absorption line sources and blue outliers. The requested spectral range covers both Hα and Hβ,
as well as the Ca ii NIR triplet and molecular (TiO, ZrO, VO) absorption bands typical of late type stars. We
will measure the EW and FWHM of the Hα line, and identify all emission features (e.g. He i,ii lines) present in

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7. Description of the proposed programme and attachments

Description of the proposed programme (continued)

the spectrum. In addition we will identify molecular bands and stellar features in the spectrum (for example by
template matching). Combining the spectral data with optical/NIR variability information (available through
OGLE/VVV), we will be able to determine the nature of sources in each part of the CCD. This will give us a
first indication of the true content of the outlier sample.
References: Britt et al. 2013, ApJ, 769, 120 • Ivanova et al. 2012, ApJ, 760, L24 • Maccarone et al. 2012, MNRAS, 426,
3057 • Drew et al. 2005, MNRAS, 362, 753 • Barentsen et al. 2014, MNRAS, 444, 3230 • Greiss et al. 2014, MNRAS,
438, 2839 • Minniti et al. 2010, New Astronomy, 15, 433 • Witham et al. 2008, MNRAS, 384, 1277 • Corradi et al.
2008, A&A, 480, 409 • Vink et al. 2008, MNRAS, 387, 308 • Wright et al. 2008, MNRAS, 390, 929 •

Attachments (Figures)

2.0

1.5
r0 - Hα (mag)

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.50.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
r0 - i0 (mag)

Fig. 1: Example of a colour-colour diagram used to select sources with excess Hα emission/absorption (yellow
stars) above and below the loci of stars, respectively, and blue outliers (blue squares) around r0 – i0 = 0.

3.0

2.5

2.0
r0 - Hα (mag)

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0.51.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

r0 - i0 (mag)

Fig. 2: CCD of bright outliers from the sample. Red stars indicate excess Hα emission candidates, blue circles
are blue outliers and black triangles are excess Hα absorption candidates.

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8. Justification of requested observing time and observing conditions
Lunar Phase Justification: All targets can be observed at any lunar phase.
Time Justification: (including seeing overhead) We propose to use FORS2+GRIS-300V+10 with the
GG435 order sorting filter to cover the spectral range λλ4450 – 8650Å. We use the FORS2 K2V ETC template
and the MIT detectors binned 2x2, assuming the faintest target in our sample (r0 = 18). A 1.600 slit width,
which yields a spectral resolution of 21Å, and a snr = 30–40 are sufficient for classification. Snr =30 – 40 can
be obtained in 250s during bright conditions in 200 seeing. For sources with blue colours, the spectrum will
resemble an A0V star, and an integration time of 250s gives snr = 30–40. In general our sources are brighter
than r0 ≤ 18, and the exposure times are shorter.
One of the outliers is the bright optical counterpart to a known GBS X-ray source (CXB279). For this source
we propose to use FORS2+GRIS-600RI+19 rather than GRIS-300V+10. The higher spectral resolution will
facilitate the detailed spectroscopic study and classification of this X-ray source. Although the source has
r0 = 18.6, it is quite reddened and is bright in the i0 -band ( = 16.8). Using a K2V spectral template, an exposure
time of ∼ 120s in 200 seeing with a 1.600 slitwidth yields a snr =30 – 40, sufficient for classification.

8a. Telescope Justification:

The targets can be observed in bad weather conditions at the VLT.

8b. Observing Mode Justification (visitor or service):

Service

8c. Calibration Request:

Standard Calibration

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9. Report on the use of ESO facilities during the last 2 years
097.D-0845: awaiting completion of the programme. The available data have been reduced and are being
analysed (Wevers et al. in prep)

9a. ESO Archive - Are the data requested by this proposal in the ESO Archive
(http://archive.eso.org)? If so, explain the need for new data.
No.

9b. GTO/Public Survey Duplications:

10. Applicant’s publications related to the subject of this application during the last 2 years
Wevers, T. et al., 2016a, MNRAS, 458, 4530: The Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey: optical catalogue and
point-source counterparts to X-ray sources
Wevers, T. et al., 2016b, MNRAS, 462L, 106: Discovery of a high state AM CVn binary in the Galactic Bulge
Survey
Jonker, P. G. et al., 2014, ApJS, 210, 18J: The Galactic Bulge Survey: Completion of the X-Ray Survey
Observations
Torres, M. A. P. et al., 2014, MNRAS, 240, 365: Identification of 23 accreting binaries in the Galactic Bulge
Survey
Britt, C. et al., 2014, ApJS, 214, 10B: Variability of Optical Counterparts in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey

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11. List of targets proposed in this programme
Run Target/Field α(J2000) δ(J2000) ToT Mag. Diam. Additional Reference star
info

A CXB279 17 45 21.78 -32 09 36.85 0.14 X-ray ctpart

B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Emission
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
Following targets moved to the end of the document ...

Target Notes: All magnitudes are given in the r0 -band.

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12. Scheduling requirements

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13. Instrument configuration
Period Instrument Run ID Parameter Value or list

99 FORS2 A LSS GRIS-600RI+19+ R-

SPECIAL+76
99 FORS2 B LSS GRIS-300V+11 + GG435

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6b. Co-investigators:
...continued from Box 6a.
C. Heinke 5660
C. Britt 1471

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11a. List of targets proposed in this programme
Run Target/Field α(J2000) δ(J2000) ToT Mag. Diam. Additional Reference star
info

...continued from box 11.

B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Absorption
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue
B GBSJ 17 -2 0.1 1 Blue

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