scholarly journals Tests of Evolution Models Using Star Clusters

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 423-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-C. Mermilliod
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Surface Chemical ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Detailed Surface ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Magnitude Diagram ◽  
Red Giant

The fitting of isochrones over star-cluster colour-magnitude diagrams is a favourite test of stellar evolution models because it seems to be the easiest and most evident one: the star distribution in the colour-magnitude diagram represents a constant age locus, provided the clusters are old enough and the internal age dispersion is negligible. The ratios of evolved to main-sequence stars in open clusters, or of population along the red giant branch in globular clusters, could provide valuable tests, but it is difficult to estimate these ratios with small enough uncertainties. Furthermore the detailed surface chemical composition (element abundances and isotope ratios) is not known for many cluster stars and model predictions cannot be tested in various environments.Tests have been mostly devoted to the main sequence and the long debate between canonical precepts and core overshooting is still active. St others (1991) has argued that the use of the new opacities (Rogers & Iglesias 1992) reduces the necessity of adding overshooting to the models. Castellani et al (1992) computed extensive grids of models with canonical precepts. However, recent papers (Carraro et al. 1993; Meynet et al. 1993; Demarque et al. 1994) show that a moderate core overshooting (about 0.2 Hp) is still necessary. Basically, cluster observations call for more massive cores, whatever process is at work. An excellent review of the various ingredients included in models (equation of state, nuclear rates, opacities, convection) and the effects of their changes has been presented by Vandenberg (1991).

scholarly journals Observations of low mass stars in clusters: Some constraints and puzzles for stellar evolution theory

1984 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 123-138
Author(s):  
R.D. Cannon
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Theory Of Evolution ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Red Giant

This review will attempt to do two things: (i) discuss some of the data which are available for testing the theory of evolution of low mass stars, and (ii) point out some problem areas where observations and theory do not seem to agree very well. This is of course too vast a field of research to be covered in one brief review, so I shall concentrate on one particular aspect, namely the study of star clusters and especially their colour-magnitude (CM) diagrams. Star clusters provide large samples of stars at the same distance and with the same age, and the CM diagram gives the easiest way of comparing theoretical predictions with observations, although crucial evidence is also provided by spectroscopic abundance analyses and studies of variable stars. Since this is primarily a review of observational data it is natural to divide it into two parts: (i) galactic globular clusters, and (ii) old and intermediate-age open clusters. Some additional evidence comes from Local Group galaxies, especially now that CM diagrams which reach the old main sequence are becoming available. For each class of cluster I shall consider successive stages of evolution from the main sequence, up the hydrogen-burning red giant branch, and through the helium-burning giant phase.

scholarly journals The LMC Globular Cluster Hodge 11 (=SL 868)

1984 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 43-44
Author(s):  
L. L. Stryker ◽  
J. M. Nemec ◽  
J. E. Hesser ◽  
R.D. McClure
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Star Cluster ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Rr Lyrae Stars ◽  
Rr Lyrae ◽  
Magnitude Diagram ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Lyrae Stars ◽  
Termination Point

The age of the star cluster H11 has been controversial for a number of years. The color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of Walker (1979) to V=21.5 was interpreted as an “…evolved main-sequence, whose termination point corresponds to an age of about 0.6 Gyr, but with a giant branch which is displaced blueward by about Δ (B-V)o=0.4 from the positions of the giant branches of open clusters of similar age in our Galaxy.” On the other hand, the integrated colors are similar to those of metal-poor globular clusters in the Galaxy (Freeman and Gascoigne 1977, and references therein), and “…incompatible with an age of say 0.3 Gyr.” Searle, Wilkinson and Bagnuolo (1980) classify it as Group VII, the oldest group. The system has no RR Lyrae stars (Graham and Nemec 1984).

scholarly journals Spatial Structure of Star Clusters by the 2MASS Database

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 ◽  
pp. 331-332
Author(s):  
J.W. Chen ◽  
W.P. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Young Star ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Sky Survey ◽  
Mass Segregation ◽  
Young Star Clusters

AbstractWe present some results of a pilot program to study star clusters with the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) observations. While 2MASS cannot resolve the cores or detect much of the main sequence of globular clusters, the homogeneity and large angular coverages make the database suitable to study young star clusters. We show that member stars are centrally concentrated in open clusters, with a density distribution markedly shallower than that for globular clusters. In NGC2506 (age 3 Gyr) giant stars appear to occupy a smaller region than main sequence stars—a natural consequence of mass segregation.

scholarly journals Surface Abundance Anomalies of Main Sequence Stars in Globular Clusters — A Probe into Interactions between Stars

2003 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 445-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaaki Shimada ◽  
Masayuki Y. Fujimoto ◽  
Shimako Yamada ◽  
Daiichiro Sugimoto
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Red Giants ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Close Encounters ◽  
Dense Cores ◽  
Abundance Anomalies ◽  
Red Giant

In most of globular clusters, surface abundance anomalies are observed not only from red giant stars but also from main sequence stars. We discuss the possibility that the latter anomalies can be explained in terms the pollution due to mass transfer during close encounters with red giants, the latter of which have already developed the anomalies through their internal processes. If this is the case, the main sequence stars with the abundance anomalies may serve as a probe into the star-star interactions in dense cores of globular clusters.

scholarly journals Multiple Stellar Populations at Less-evolved Stages-II: No Evidence of Significant Helium Spread among NGC 1846 Dwarfs

2021 ◽  
Vol 921 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Chengyuan Li
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Nitrogen Enrichment ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Red Giant ◽  
Cluster Age

Abstract The detection of star-to-star chemical variations in star clusters older than 2 Gyr has changed the traditional view of star clusters as canonical examples of “simple stellar populations” into the so-called “multiple stellar populations” (MPs). Although the significance of MPs seems to correlate with cluster total mass, it seems that the presence of MPs is determined by cluster age. In this article, we use deep photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope to investigate whether the FG-type dwarfs in the ∼1.7 Gyr old cluster NGC 1846, have helium spread. By comparing the observation with the synthetic stellar populations, we estimate a helium spread of ΔY ∼ 0.01 ± 0.01 among the main-sequence stars in NGC 1846. The maximum helium spread would not exceed ΔY ∼ 0.02, depending on the adopted fraction of helium-enriched stars. To mask the color variation caused by such a helium enrichment, a nitrogen enrichment of at least Δ[N/Fe] = 0.8 dex is required, which is excluded by previous analyses of the red-giant branch in this cluster. We find that our result is consistent with the ΔY–mass relationship for Galactic globular clusters. To examine whether or not NGC 1846 harbors MPs, higher photometric accuracy is required. We conclude that under the adopted photometric quality, there is no extreme helium variation among NGC 1846 dwarfs.

scholarly journals Helium, [Fe/H] Abundances and the HR (Log TEFF, MBol) Diagram With Hipparcos Data of The Four Nearest Open Clusters: Hyades, Coma Berenices, The Pleiades and Praesepe

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 565-565
Author(s):  
G. Cayrel de Strobel ◽  
R. Cayrel ◽  
Y. Lebreton
Keyword(s):  
Main Sequence ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Spectroscopic Analyses ◽  
Solar Metallicity ◽  
Metal Abundances ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The One ◽  
Best Fit

After having studied in great detail the observational HR diagram (log Teff, Mbol) composed by 40 main sequence stars of the Hyades (Perryman et al.,1997, A&A., in press), we have tried to apply the same method to the observational main sequences of the three next nearest open clusters: Coma Berenices, the Pleiades, and Praesepe. This method consists in comparing the observational main sequence of the clusters with a grid of theoretical ZAMSs. The stars composing the observational main sequences had to have reliable absolute bolometric magnitudes, coming all from individual Hipparcos parallaxes, precise bolometric corrections, effective temperatures and metal abundances from high resolution detailed spectroscopic analyses. If we assume, following the work by Fernandez et al. (1996, A&A,311,127), that the mixing-lenth parameter is solar, the position of a theoretical ZAMS, in the (log Teff, Mbol) plane, computed with given input physics, only depends on two free parameters: the He content Y by mass, and the metallicity Z by mass. If effective temperature and metallicity of the constituting stars of the 4 clusters are previously known by means of detailed analyses, one can deduce their helium abundances by means of an appropriate grid of theoretical ZAMS’s. The comparison between the empirical (log Teff, Mbol) main sequence of the Hyades and the computed ZAMS corresponding to the observed metallicity Z of the Hyades (Z= 0.0240 ± 0.0085) gives a He abundance for the Hyades, Y= 0.26 ± 0.02. Our interpretation, concerning the observational position of the main sequence of the three nearest clusters after the Hyades, is still under way and appears to be greatly more difficult than for the Hyades. For the moment we can say that: ‒ The 15 dwarfs analysed in detailed in Coma have a solar metallicity: [Fe/H] = -0.05 ± 0.06. However, their observational main sequence fit better with the Hyades ZAMS. ‒ The mean metallicity of 13 Pleiades dwarfs analysed in detail is solar. A metal deficient and He normal ZAMS would fit better. But, a warning for absorption in the Pleiades has to be recalled. ‒ The upper main sequence of Praesepe, (the more distant cluster: 180 pc) composed by 11 stars, analysed in detail, is the one which has the best fit with the Hyades ZAMS. The deduced ‘turnoff age’ of the cluster is slightly higher than that of the Hyades: 0.8 Gyr instead of 0.63 Gyr.

scholarly journals Light element abundance inhomogeneities in globular clusters: probing star formation and evolution in the early Milky Way

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 772-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Briley ◽  
Roger A. Bell ◽  
James E. Hesser ◽  
Graeme H. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Element Abundance ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Original Material ◽  
Abundance Patterns ◽  
Red Giant

Abundance patterns of the elements C, N, and O are sensitive probes of stellar nucleosynthesis processes and, in addition, O abundances are an important input for stellar age determinations. Understanding the nature of the observed distribution of these elements is key to constraining protogalactic star formation history. Patterns deduced from low-resolution spectroscopy of the CN, CH, NH, and CO molecules for low-mass stars in their core-hydrogen or first shell-hydrogen burning phases in the oldest ensembles known, the Galactic globular star clusters, are reviewed. New results for faint stars in NGC 104 (47 Tuc, C0021-723) reveal that the bimodal, anticorrelated pattern of CN and CH strengths found among luminous evolved stars is also present in stars nearing the end of their main-sequence lifetimes. In the absence of known mechanisms to mix newly synthesized elements from the interior to the observable surface layers of such unevolved stars, those particular inhomogeneities imply that the original material from which the stars formed some 15 billion years ago was chemically inhomogeneous in the C and N elements. However, in other clusters, observations of abundance ratios and C isotope ratios suggest that alterations to surface chemical compositions are produced as stars evolve from the main sequence through the red giant branch. Thus, the current observed distributions of C, N, and O among the brightest stars (those also observed most often) may not reflect the true distribution from which the protocluster cloud formed. The picture that is emerging of the C, N, and O abundance patterns within globular clusters may be one which requires a complicated combination of stellar evolutionary and primordial effects for its explanation.

scholarly journals The light elements in a helio- and asteroseismic perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S268) ◽  
pp. 387-394
Author(s):  
Sylvie Vauclair
Keyword(s):  
Main Sequence ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Heavy Elements ◽  
Light Elements ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
General Introduction ◽  
Helium Content ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
The Past

AbstractAsteroseismology is a powerful tool to derive stellar parameters, including the helium content and internal helium gradients, and the macroscopic motions which can lead to lithium, beryllium, and boron abundance variations. Precise determinations of these parameters need deep analyses for each individual stars. After a general introduction on helio and asteroseismology, I first discuss the solar case, the results which have been obtained in the past two decades, and the crisis induced by the new determination of the abundances of heavy elements. Then I discuss asteroseismology in relation with light element abundances, especially for the case of main sequence stars.

scholarly journals The importance of helium and metals diffusion in stars

1997 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 355-360
Author(s):  
Charles R. Proffitt
Keyword(s):  
Sound Speed ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Solar Interior ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Gravitational Settling ◽  
Hydrodynamic Processes

Comparisons between models of the solar interior and sound speed profiles derived from inversions of helioseismic data have demonstrated that it is essential to include the effects of gravitational settling when calculating the structure and evolution of the Sun. Including settling should also be necessary for models of metal poor main-sequence stars and results in a substantial reduction in the ages derived for globular clusters.In many cases it is clear that competing hydrodynamic processes, such as mass loss or rotationally driven mixing, will limit the effectiveness of gravitational separation of chemical elements. However, the quantitative details and even the relative importance of the different processes in various types of stars remains poorly understood.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document