scholarly journals Jurassic: A chemically anomalous structure in the Galactic halo

2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A83
Author(s):  
José G. Fernández-Trincado ◽  
Timothy C. Beers ◽  
Dante Minniti
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Elemental Abundance ◽  
Evolutionary Stage ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Evolution Experiment ◽  
C And N

Detailed elemental-abundance patterns of giant stars in the Galactic halo measured by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2) have revealed the existence of a unique and significant stellar subpopulation of silicon-enhanced ([Si/Fe] ≳ +0.5) metal-poor stars, spanning a wide range of metallicities (−1.5 ≲ [Fe/H] ≲ −0.8). Stars with over-abundances in [Si/Fe] are of great interest because these have very strong silicon (28Si) spectral features for stars of their metallicity and evolutionary stage, offering clues about rare nucleosynthetic pathways in globular clusters (GCs). Si-rich field stars have been conjectured to have been evaporated from GCs, however, the origin of their abundances remains unclear, and several scenarios have been offered to explain the anomalous abundance ratios. These include the hypothesis that some of them were born from a cloud of gas previously polluted by a progenitor that underwent a specific and peculiar nucleosynthesis event or, alternatively, that they were due to mass transfer from a previous evolved companion. However, those scenarios do not simultaneously explain the wide gamut of chemical species that are found in Si-rich stars. Instead, we show that the present inventory of such unusual stars, as well as their relation to known halo substructures (including the in situ halo, Gaia-Enceladus, the Helmi Stream(s), and Sequoia, among others), is still incomplete. We report the chemical abundances of the iron-peak (Fe), the light- (C and N), the α- (O and Mg), the odd-Z (Na and Al), and the s-process (Ce and Nd) elements of 55 newly identified Si-rich field stars (among more than ∼600 000 APOGEE-2 targets), which exhibit over-abundances of [Si/Fe] as extreme as those observed in some Galactic GCs, and they are relatively well distinguished from other stars in the [Si/Fe]−[Fe/H] plane. This new census confirms the presence of a statistically significant and chemically-anomalous structure in the inner halo: Jurassic. The chemo-dynamical properties of the Jurassic structure is consistent with it being the tidally disrupted remains of GCs, which are easily distinguished by an over-abundance of [Si/Fe] among Milky Way populations or satellites.

scholarly journals The Gaia-ESO Survey: impact of extra mixing on C and N abundances of giant stars

2018 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A24 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lagarde ◽  
C. Reylé ◽  
A. C. Robin ◽  
G. Tautvaišienė ◽  
A. Drazdauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Isotopic Ratio ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Open Clusters ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
C And N ◽  
The Impact

Context. The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey using FLAMES at the VLT has obtained high-resolution UVES spectra for a large number of giant stars, allowing a determination of the abundances of the key chemical elements carbon and nitrogen at their surface. The surface abundances of these chemical species are known to change in stars during their evolution on the red giant branch (RGB) after the first dredge-up episode, as a result of the extra mixing phenomena. Aims. We investigate the effects of thermohaline mixing on C and N abundances using the first comparison between the Gaia-ESO survey [C/N] determinations with simulations of the observed fields using a model of stellar population synthesis. Methods. We explore the effects of thermohaline mixing on the chemical properties of giants through stellar evolutionary models computed with the stellar evolution code STAREVOL. We include these stellar evolution models in the Besançon Galaxy model to simulate the [C/N] distributions determined from the UVES spectra of the Gaia-ESO survey and to compare them with the observations. Results. Theoretical predictions including the effect of thermohaline mixing are in good agreement with the observations. However, the field stars in the Gaia-ESO survey with C and N abundance measurements have a metallicity close to solar, where the efficiency of thermohaline mixing is not very large. The C and N abundances derived by the Gaia-ESO survey in open and globular clusters clearly show the impact of thermohaline mixing at low metallicity, which explains the [C/N] value observed in lower mass and older giant stars. Using independent observations of carbon isotopic ratio in clump field stars and open clusters, we also confirm that thermohaline mixing should be taken into account to explain the behaviour of 12C/13C as a function of stellar age. Conclusions. Overall, the current model including thermohaline mixing is able to reproduce very well the C and N abundances over the whole metallicity range investigated by the Gaia-ESO survey data.

scholarly journals H-band discovery of additional second-generation stars in the Galactic bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 as observed by APOGEE and Gaia

2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A178 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Fernández-Trincado ◽  
O. Zamora ◽  
Diogo Souto ◽  
R. E. Cohen ◽  
F. Dell’Agli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Elemental Abundance ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Abundance Patterns ◽  
Evolution Experiment ◽  
Band Spectra ◽  
Stellar Sources ◽  
Process Element

We present an elemental abundance analysis of high-resolution spectra for five giant stars spatially located within the innermost regions of the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 and derive Fe, Mg, Al, C, N, O, Si, and Ce abundances based on H-band spectra taken with the multi-object APOGEE-north spectrograph from the SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. Of the five cluster candidates, two previously unremarked stars are confirmed to have second-generation (SG) abundance patterns, with the basic pattern of depletion in C and Mg simultaneous with enrichment in N and Al as seen in other SG globular cluster populations at similar metallicity. In agreement with the most recent optical studies, the NGC 6522 stars analyzed exhibit (when available) only mild overabundances of the s-process element Ce, contradicting the idea that NGC 6522 stars are formed from gas enriched by spinstars and indicating that other stellar sources such as massive AGB stars could be the primary polluters of intra-cluster medium. The peculiar abundance signatures of SG stars have been observed in our data, confirming the presence of multiple generations of stars in NGC 6522.

scholarly journals Contributions to the Galactic halo from in-situ, kicked-out, and accreted stars

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S317) ◽  
pp. 241-246
Author(s):  
Allyson A. Sheffield ◽  
Kathryn V. Johnston ◽  
Katia Cunha ◽  
Verne V. Smith ◽  
Steven R. Majewski
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
High Resolution Spectroscopy ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Tentative Evidence

AbstractWe report chemical abundances for a sample of 66 M giants with high S/N high-resolution spectroscopy in the inner halo of the Milky Way. The program giant stars have radial velocities that vary significantly from those expected for stars moving on uniform circular orbits in the Galactic disk. Thus, based on kinematics, we expect a sample dominated by halo stars. Abundances are derived for α-elements and neutron capture elements. By analyzing the multi-dimensional abundance space, the formation site of the halo giants – in-situ or accreted – can be assessed. Of particular interest are a class of stars that form in-situ, deep in the Milky Way's gravitational potential well, but are “kicked out” of the disk into the halo due to a perturbation event. We find: (1) our sample is dominated by accreted stars and (2) tentative evidence of a small kicked-out population in our Milky Way halo sample.

scholarly journals Abundances and kinematics of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo

2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Hansen ◽  
T. T. Hansen ◽  
A. Koch ◽  
T. C. Beers ◽  
B. Nordström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Elemental Abundance ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Wide Range

Carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars span a wide range of stellar populations, from bona fide second-generation stars to later-forming stars that provide excellent probes of binary mass transfer and stellar evolution. Here we analyse 11 metal-poor stars (8 of which are new to the literature), and demonstrate that 10 are CEMP stars. Based on high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) X-shooter spectra, we derive abundances of 20 elements (C, N, O, Na, Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Sr, Y, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Eu). From the high-S/N spectra, we were able to trace the chemical contribution of the rare earth elements (REE) from various possible production sites, finding a preference for metal-poor low-mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of 1.5 M⊙ in CEMP-s stars, while CEMP-r/s stars may indicate a more massive AGB contribution (2–5 M⊙). A contribution from the r-process – possibly from neutron star–neutron star mergers (NSM) – is also detectable in the REE stellar abundances, especially in the CEMP-r/s sub-group rich in both slow(s) and rapid(r) neutron-capture elements. Combining spectroscopic data with Gaia DR2 astrometric data provides a powerful chemodynamical tool for placing CEMP stars in the various Galactic components, and classifying CEMP stars into the four major elemental-abundance sub-groups, which are dictated by their neutron-capture element content. The derived orbital parameters indicate that all but one star in our sample (and the majority of the selected literature stars) belong to the Galactic halo. These stars exhibit a median orbital eccentricity of 0.7, and are found on both prograde and retrograde orbits. We find that the orbital parameters of CEMP-no and CEMP-s stars are remarkably similar in the 98 stars we study. A special case is the CEMP-no star HE 0020−1741, with very low Sr and Ba content, which possesses the most eccentric orbit among the stars in our sample, passing close to the Galactic centre. Finally, we propose an improved scheme to sub-classify the CEMP stars, making use of the Sr/Ba ratio, which can also be used to separate very metal-poor stars from CEMP stars. We explore the use of [Sr/Ba] versus [Ba/Fe] in 93 stars in the metallicity range −4.2 ≲ [Fe/H] <  −2. We show that the Sr/Ba ratio can also be successfully used for distinguishing CEMP-s, CEMP-r/s, and CEMP-no stars. Additionally, the Sr/Ba ratio is found to be a powerful astro-nuclear indicator, since the metal-poor AGB stars exhibit very different Sr/Ba ratios compared to fast-rotating massive stars and NSM, and is also reasonably unbiased by NLTE and 3D corrections.

scholarly journals Lithium and beryllium in the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (3) ◽  
pp. 2902-2909
Author(s):  
P Molaro ◽  
G Cescutti ◽  
X Fu
Keyword(s):  
Milky Way ◽  
Local Group ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Dwarf Stars ◽  
Evolution Experiment ◽  
External Galaxies ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Gaia Dr2

ABSTRACT Data from Gaia DR2 and The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment surveys revealed a relatively new component in the inner Galactic halo, which is likely the dynamical remnant of a disrupted dwarf galaxy named Gaia-Enceladus that collided with the Milky Way about 10 Gyr ago. This merging event offers an extraordinary opportunity to study chemical abundances of elements in a dwarf galaxy, since they are generally hampered in external galaxies. Here, we focus on 7Li and 9Be in dwarf stars that are out of reach even in Local Group galaxies. Searching in GALAH, Gaia-ESO survey and in literature, we found several existing 7Li abundance determinations of stars belonging to the Gaia-Enceladus galaxy. The 7Li abundances of stars at the low metallicity end overlap with those of the Galactic halo. These are effective extragalactic 7Li measurements, which suggest that the 7Li Spite plateau is universal, as is the cosmological 7Li problem. We found a 7Li-rich giant out of 101 stars, which suggests a small percentage similar to that of the Milky Way. We also collect 9Be abundance for a subsample of 25 Gaia-Enceladus stars from literature. Their abundances share the Galactic [Be/H] values at the low metallicity end but grow slower with [Fe/H] and show a reduced dispersion. This suggests that the scatter observed in the Milky Way could reflect the different 9Be evolution patterns of different stellar components that are mixed-up in the Galactic halo.

scholarly journals Medium-Resolution s-process Element Survey of 47 Tuc Giant Stars

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Worley ◽  
P. L. Cottrell
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Giant Star ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Medium Resolution ◽  
Cno Cycle ◽  
C And N ◽  
Stellar Properties ◽  
Process Element

AbstractMedium-resolution (R ∼ 6500) spectra of 97 giant stars in the globu lar cluster 47 Tucanæ (47 Tuc) have been used to derive the C- and N-abundance sensitive index, δC, and to infer abundances of several key elements (Fe, Na, Si, Ca, Zr and Ba) for a sample of 13 of these stars with similar effective temperature ( Teff) and surface gravity (log g). These stars have stellar properties similar to the well-studied 47 Tuc giant star, Lee 2525, but with a range of CN excess (δC) values which are a measure of the CN abundance. The δC index is shown to be correlated with Na abundance for this sample, confirming previous studies. Fe, Ca, Si and the light and heavy s-process (slow neut ron capture) elements, Zr and Ba, respectively, have a narrow range of abundance values, indicative of a homogeneous abundance within this population of stars. The constancy of many element abundances (Fe, Si, Ca, Zr, Ba) and the δC and Na abundance correlation could imply that there has been a second era of star formation in this cluster that has revealed the products of CNO-cycle burning via hot bottom burning (depletion of C, enhancement of N and the production of Na for high δC population). But there is no overall metallicity change across the range of δC values at a given position in the HR diagram as has been seen in some other globular clusters.

scholarly journals Chemical abundances of giant stars in NGC 5053 and NGC 5634, two globular clusters associated with the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy?

2015 ◽  
Vol 579 ◽  
pp. A104 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Sbordone ◽  
L. Monaco ◽  
C. Moni Bidin ◽  
P. Bonifacio ◽  
S. Villanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Giant Stars

scholarly journals Chemodynamics of newly identified giants with a globular cluster like abundance patterns in the bulge, disc, and halo of the Milky Way

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (2) ◽  
pp. 2864-2880 ◽  
Author(s):  
José G Fernández-Trincado ◽  
Timothy C Beers ◽  
Baitian Tang ◽  
Edmundo Moreno ◽  
Angeles Pérez-Villegas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Main Element ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Giant Stars ◽  
Halo Population ◽  
Process Elements

ABSTRACT The latest edition of the APOGEE-2/DR14 survey catalogue and the first Payne data release of APOGEE abundance determinations by Ting et al. are examined. We identify 31 previously unremarked metal-poor giant stars with anomalously high levels of [N/Fe] abundances, which is not usually observed among metal-poor stars in the Milky Way. We made use of the Brussels Automatic Stellar Parameter (BACCHUS) code to re-derive manually the chemical abundances of 31 field stars in order to compile the main element families, namely the light elements (C, N), a-elements (O, Mg, Si), iron-peak element (Fe), s-process elements (Ce, Nd), and the light odd-Z element (Na, Al). We have found all these objects have a [N/Fe] ≳ +0.5, and are thus identified here as nitrogen-rich stars. An orbital analysis of these objects revealed that a handful of them shares the orbital properties of the bar/bulge, and possibly linked to tidal debris of surviving globular clusters trapped into the bar component. Three of the 31 stars are actually halo interlopers into the bulge area, which suggests that halo contamination is not insignificant when studying N-rich stars found in the inner Galaxy, whereas the rest of the N-rich stars share orbital properties with the halo population. Most of the newly identified population exhibits chemistry similar to the so-called second-generation globular cluster stars (enriched in aluminum, [Al/Fe] ≳ +0.5), whereas a handful of them exhibit lower abundances of aluminum, [Al/Fe] &lt; +0.5, which are thought to be chemically associated with the first generation of stars, as seen in globular clusters, or compatible with origin from a tidally disrupted dwarf galaxy.

scholarly journals Creation/destruction of ultra-wide binaries in tidal streams

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Peñarrubia
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Semimajor Axis ◽  
Major Axis ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Semi Major Axis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Tidal Streams

Abstract This paper uses statistical and N-body methods to explore a new mechanism to form binary stars with extremely large separations (≳ 0.1 pc), whose origin is poorly understood. Here, ultra-wide binaries arise via chance entrapment of unrelated stars in tidal streams of disrupting clusters. It is shown that (i) the formation of ultra-wide binaries is not limited to the lifetime of a cluster, but continues after the progenitor is fully disrupted, (ii) the formation rate is proportional to the local phase-space density of the tidal tails, (iii) the semimajor axis distribution scales as p(a)da ∼ a1/2da at a ≪ D, where D is the mean interstellar distance, and (vi) the eccentricity distribution is close to thermal, p(e)de = 2ede. Owing to their low binding energies, ultra-wide binaries can be disrupted by both the smooth tidal field and passing substructures. The time-scale on which tidal fluctuations dominate over the mean field is inversely proportional to the local density of compact substructures. Monte-Carlo experiments show that binaries subject to tidal evaporation follow p(a)da ∼ a−1da at a ≳ apeak, known as Öpik’s law, with a peak semi-major axis that contracts with time as apeak ∼ t−3/4. In contrast, a smooth Galactic potential introduces a sharp truncation at the tidal radius, p(a) ∼ 0 at a ≳ rt. The scaling relations of young clusters suggest that most ultra-wide binaries arise from the disruption of low-mass systems. Streams of globular clusters may be the birthplace of hundreds of ultra-wide binaries, making them ideal laboratories to probe clumpiness in the Galactic halo.

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