scholarly journals The Galactic Disk-Halo Transition – Evidence from Stellar Abundances

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S254) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poul Erik Nissen ◽  
William J. Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Chemical Abundance ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
New Information ◽  
First Results ◽  
Satellite Galaxies

AbstractNew information on the relations between the Galactic disks, the halo, and satellite galaxies is being obtained from elemental abundances of stars having metallicities in the range −1.5 < [Fe/H] < −0.5. The first results for a sample of 26 halo stars and 13 thick-disk stars observed with the ESO VLT/UVES spectrograph are presented. The halo stars fall in two distinct groups: one group (9 stars) has [α/Fe] = 0.30 ± 0.03 like the thick-disk stars. The other group (17 stars) shows a clearly deviating trend ranging from [α/Fe] = 0.20 at [Fe/H] = −1.3 to [α/Fe] = 0.08 at [Fe/H] = −0.8. The kinematics of the stars are discussed and the abundance ratios Na/Fe, Ni/Fe, Cu/Fe and Ba/Y are applied to see if the “low-alpha” stars are connected to the thin disk or to Milky Way satellite galaxies. Furthermore, we compare our data with simulations of chemical abundance distributions in hierarchically formed stellar halos in a ΛCDM Universe.

scholarly journals The radial extent of the Galactic thick disk

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S321) ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
Thomas Bensby
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Stellar Disk ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Radial Extent ◽  
Thin And Thick Disks ◽  
Thick Disks ◽  
Scale Length

AbstractBased on observational data from the fourth internal data release of the Gaia-ESO Survey we probe the abundance structure in the Milky Way stellar disk as a function of galactocentric radius and height above the plane. We find that the inner and outer Galactic disks have different chemical signatures. The stars in the inner Galactic disk show abundance signatures of both the thin and thick disks, while the stars in the outer Galactic disk resemble in majority the abundances seen in the thin disk. Assuming that the Galactic thick disk can be associated with the α-enriched population, this can be interpreted as that the thick disk density drops drastically beyond a galactocentric radius of about 10 kpc. This is in agreement with recent findings that the thick disk has a short scale-length, shorter than that of the the thin disk.

Chemo-Kinematic Properties of the Galactic Disk with SEGUE G and K Dwarfs: Constraints on Formation

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S334) ◽  
pp. 306-307
Author(s):  
Doori Han ◽  
Young Sun Lee ◽  
Young Kwang Kim ◽  
Timothy C. Beers
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Orbital Eccentricity ◽  
Disk Formation ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Kinematic Properties

AbstractWe present the derived kinematic characteristics of low-α thin-disk and high-α thick-disk stars in the Milky Way, investigated with a sample of about 32,000 G- and K-type dwarfs from the Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE). Based on the level of α-element enhancement as a function of [Fe/H], we separate our sample into thin- and thick-disk stars and then derive mean velocities, velocity dispersions, and velocity gradients for the U, V, and W velocity components, respectively, as well as the orbital eccentricity distribution. There are notable gradients in the V velocity over [Fe/H] in both populations: −23 km s−1 dex−1 for the thin disk and +44 km s−1 dex−1 for the thick disk. The velocity dispersion of the thick disk decreases with increasing [Fe/H], while the velocity dispersion gradient over [Fe/H] for the thin disk is almost flat for all velocity components, except for the W velocity dispersion of the metal-poor thin-disk stars. The eccentricity distribution exhibits a peak at a higher value, and is more symmetric as [α/Fe] increases, implying that complex formation mechanisms may be involved. Our results can be used to constrain several proposed disk-formation scenarios of the Milky Way and other large spirals.

scholarly journals Chemical differences and similarities among the kinematically selected thick disk, inner halo and outer halo stars

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S298) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
Miho N. Ishigaki ◽  
Wako Aoki ◽  
Masashi Chiba
Keyword(s):  
Thick Disk ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Elemental Abundance ◽  
High Dispersion ◽  
Chemical Abundance ◽  
Chemical Enrichment ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Stellar Halo ◽  
Homogeneous Chemical

AbstractChemical diversity among metal-poor stars in the old stellar components in the Milky Way (MW), namely the thick disk and stellar halo, provides clues to understanding the early chemodynamical evolution of our Galaxy. We present our results on a homogeneous chemical abundance analysis for nearby metal-poor stars likely belonging to the MW thick disk, inner and outer stellar halos. Abundances of alpha, sodium, iron-peak and neutron-capture elements in the sample stars have been estimated using high-resolution (R 50000) spectra obtained with the High Dispersion Spectrograph mounted on the Subaru Telescope. The derived abundances are used to examine differences and similarities in elemental abundance ratios among the kinematically defined thick disk, inner and outer halo subsamples in the metallicity range of −3.3 < [Fe/H] < −0.5. We show that, in the metallicity range of [Fe/H] < −2, the three subsamples are similar in most of the elemental abundances. On the other hand, in the higher metallicities, particularly in [Fe/H] > −1.5, the thick disk and the inner/outer halo subsamples show systematically different abundance ratios for some elements including alpha, sodium, zinc and europium. A modest difference in the sodium and zinc abundances between the inner- and outer halo subsamples is also identified. The observed distinct abundances of some elements among the three subsamples implies that their constituent stars originally formed in progenitor systems that have experienced different star formation and chemical enrichment histories.

scholarly journals The Fuse Survey of O VI in and near the Milky Way

2004 ◽  
Vol 217 ◽  
pp. 147-153
Author(s):  
B. D. Savage ◽  
B. P. Wakker ◽  
K. R. Sembach ◽  
P. Richter ◽  
M. Meade
Keyword(s):  
High Velocity ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Tidal Interactions ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Absorbing Layer ◽  
Far Ultraviolet ◽  
Gas Interactions

We summarize the results of the Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) program to study O VI in the Milky Way halo. Spectra of 100 extragalactic objects and two distant halo stars are analyzed to obtain measures of O VI absorption along paths through the Milky Way thick disk/halo and beyond. Strong O VI absorption over the velocity range from −100 to 100 km s−1 reveals a widespread but highly irregular distribution of O VI, implying the existence of substantial amounts of hot gas with T~3×105 K in the Milky Way thick disk/halo. The overall distribution of O VI can be described by a plane-parallel patchy absorbing layer with an average O VI mid-plane density of no(O VI) = 1.7×10−8 cm−3, an exponential scale height of ~2.3 kpc, and a ~0.25 dex excess of O VI in the northern Galactic polar region. Approximately 60 percent of the sky is covered by high velocity O VI with |vLSR|>100 km s−1. This high velocity O VI traces a variety of phenomena in and near the Milky Way including outflowing material from the Milky Way, tidal interactions with the Magellanic Clouds, accretion of gas onto the Milky Way, and warm/hot gas interactions in a highly extended (>70 kpc) Galactic corona or with hot intergalactic gas in the Local Group.

scholarly journals A New Sample of Thick Disk and Halo Stars

1995 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 386-386
Author(s):  
C. Soubiran ◽  
M.N. Perrin ◽  
R. Cayrel ◽  
E. Chereul
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Population ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
The Other ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Fundamental Parameters ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Synthetic Spectra ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Comparison Stars

The aim of our stellar population study is to investigate the kinematical and chemical characteristics of the thin disk, thick disk and halo of the Galaxy. We have selected 51 stars in 2 astrometric and photometric surveys at l = 42°, b = +79° (Soubiran 1992) and l = 167°, b = +47° (Ojha et al. 1994), on the basis of the Reduced Proper Motion Diagram. They were observed with the 193cm telescope at Observatoire de Haute-Provence, with the CARELEC spectrograph (dispersion of 66Å/mm, FWHM of 3.0Å, range λλ4600 – 5500Å), together with 43 comparison stars with known fundamental parameters. The derivation of Teff, logg and [Fe/H] was done differentially using a grid of synthetic spectra and the comparison stars, as described in Cayrel et al. (1991). Twenty of the target stars were found to be more deficient than −0.5. In the (V, [Fe/H]) distribution, the halo stars are clearly separated from the other stars with a mean of (V, [Fe/H]) ≃ (−210km/s, – 1.4dex). Because of the small size of the sample, it was not possible to discriminate the thick disk from the thin disk. We have taken 200 more spectra, and with these new observations, we hope to be able to deconvolve the 3 populations in the (U, V, W, [Fe/H]) space as we did previously with the (U, V) velocity (Soubiran 1993).

scholarly journals Metallicity Structures of the Milky Way

1996 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 427-428
Author(s):  
Roland Buser ◽  
Jianxiang Rong
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Structural Models ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Abundance Gradient ◽  
Galactic Population

The metallicity-sensitive (U – G) colors from the new homogeneous catalog of photographic RGU data in seven high-latitude fields have been used to determine the larger-scale metallicity distributions of the Galactic population components. For the thick disk, preliminary analysis based on our best structural models provides a mean metallicity 〈[M/H]〉 = −0.6 ± 0.3dex and a marginal vertical metallicity gradient ≈ −0.1dex/kpc. The observed color distributions are further consistent with the (old) thin disk having mean abundance 〈[M/H]〉 = −0.3 ± 0.2dex and abundance gradient ∂[M/H]/∂z = −0.6dex/kpc.

scholarly journals Modelling the chemical evolution of the Milky Way

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Matteucci
Keyword(s):  
Observational Data ◽  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Stellar Nucleosynthesis

AbstractIn this review, I will discuss the comparison between model results and observational data for the Milky Way, the predictive power of such models as well as their limits. Such a comparison, known as Galactic archaeology, allows us to impose constraints on stellar nucleosynthesis and timescales of formation of the various Galactic components (halo, bulge, thick disk and thin disk).

scholarly journals Traces of the formation history of the Milky Way

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S298) ◽  
pp. 430-430
Author(s):  
B. Nordström ◽  
E. Stonkutė ◽  
R. Ženovienė ◽  
G. Tautvaišienė
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
Formation History ◽  
First Results ◽  
History Of ◽  
R Process ◽  
Process Element ◽  
Kinematic Properties

AbstractChemical and kinematical information is needed in order to understand and trace the formation history of our Galaxy. In the homogeneous large sample of F and G stars in the survey by Nordström et al. (2004), groups of stars with orbital parameters different from field stars were found by Helmi et al. (2006). Simulations of disrupted satellites showed that the groups had similar properties as infalling dwarf satellites would have after several Gyr. From high resolution spectra, we analyse elemental abundances of stars in 3 such groups with conserved kinematic properties. Here we present first results of s- and r- process element abundances in two such groups and compare with average field stars.

scholarly journals Chemical abundances of field halo stars - Implications for the building blocks of the Milky Way

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Miho N. Ishigaki
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Chemical Abundance ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Dimensional Phase Space ◽  
Stellar Halo ◽  
Detailed Chemical

AbstractI would like to review recent efforts of detailed chemical abundance measurements for field Milky Way halo stars. Thanks to the advent of wide-field spectroscopic surveys up to a several kpc from the Sun, large samples of field halo stars with detailed chemical measurements are continuously expanding. Combination of the chemical information and full six dimensional phase-space information is now recognized as a powerful tool to identify cosmological accretion events that have built a sizable fraction of the present-day stellar halo. Future observational prospects with wide-field spectroscopic surveys and theoretical prospects with supernova nucleosynthetic yields are also discussed.

scholarly journals Characterisation of the Galactic thick disk

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S298) ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Thomas Bensby
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Spiral Galaxies ◽  
Thin Disk ◽  
Thick Disk ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Galaxy Formation And Evolution ◽  
Formation History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Formation And Evolution

AbstractThick disks appear to be common in external large spiral galaxies and our own Milky Way also hosts one. The existence of a thick disk is possibly directly linked to the formation history of the host galaxy and if its properties is known it can constrain models of galaxy formation and help us to better understand galaxy formation and evolution. This brief review attempts to highlight some of the characteristics of the Galactic thick disk and how it relates to other stellar populations such as the thin disk and the Galactic bulge. Focus has been put on results from high-resolution spectroscopic data obtained during the last 10 to 15 years.

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