Photometric, kinematic and variability study in the young open cluster
  NGC 1960
  We present a comprehensive photometric analysis of a young open cluster NGC
1960 (M36) along with the long-term variability study of this cluster. Based on
the kinematic data of Gaia DR2, the membership probabilities of 3871 stars are
ascertained in the cluster field among which 262 stars are found to be cluster
members. Considering the kinematic and trigonometric measurements of the
cluster members, we estimate a mean cluster parallax of 0.86+/-0.05 mas and
mean proper motions of mu_RA = -0.143+/-0.008 mas/yr, mu_Dec = -3.395+/-0.008
mas/yr. We obtain basic parameters of the cluster such as E(B-V) = 0.24+/-0.02
mag, log(Age/yr)=7.44+/-0.02, and distance = 1.17+/-0.06 kpc. The mass function
slope in the cluster for the stars in the mass range of 0.72-7.32 M_solar is
found to be \gamma = -1.26+/-0.19. We find that mass segregation is still
taking place in the cluster which is yet to be dynamically relaxed. This work
also presents first high-precision variability survey in the central 13'x13'
among which 72 are periodic variables. Among them, 59 are short-period (P<1
day)and 13 are long-period (P>1 day). The variable stars have V magnitudes
ranging between 9.1 to 19.4 mag and periods between 41 minutes to 10.74 days.
On the basis of their locations in the H-R diagram, periods and characteristic
light curves, the 20 periodic variables belong to the cluster. We classified
them as 2 delta-Scuti, 3 gamma-Dor, 2 slowly pulsating B stars, 5 rotational
variables, 2 non-pulsating B stars and 6 as miscellaneous variables.
