Milky Way Zero-Point Calibration of the JAGB Method: Using Thermally Pulsing AGB Stars in Galactic Open Clusters

Abstract

We present a new calibration of the J-band absolute magnitude of the JAGB method based on thermally pulsing AGB stars that are members of Milky Way open clusters, having distances and reddenings, independently compiled and published by Marigo et al (2022). 17 of these photometrically-selected J-Branch AGB stars give M_J = -6.40 mag with a scatter of +/-0.40 mag, and a sigma on the mean of +/-0.10 mag. Combining the Milky Way field carbon star calibration of Lee et al. (2021) with this determination gives a weighted average of M_J(MW) = -6.19 +/- 0.04 mag (error on the mean). This value is statistically indistinguishable from the value determined for this population of distance indicators in the LMC and SMC, giving further evidence that JAGB stars are extremely reliable distance indicators of high luminosity and universal applicability. Combining the zero points for JAGB stars in these three systems, a value of M_J = -6.20 +/- 0.01 (stat) +/- 0.04 (sys) mag becomes our best current estimate of the JAGB zero point and its associated errors. Finally, we note that no evidence is found for any statistically significant dependence of this zero point on metallicity.

Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal Sept 15 2022

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• Reconnaissance with JWST of the J-region Asymptotic Giant Branch in Distance Ladder Galaxies: From Irregular Luminosity Functions to Approximation of the Hubble Constant
• Tip of the Red Giant Branch Distances with JWST. II. I-band Measurements in a Sample of Hosts of 10 SN Ia Match HST Cepheids
• Synthetic photometry for carbon-rich giants. V. Effects of grain-size-dependent dust opacities