scholarly journals The chemical composition of globular clusters in the Local Group

Author(s):  
S. S. Larsen ◽  
P. Eitner ◽  
E. Magg ◽  
M. Bergemann ◽  
C. A. S. Moltzer ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 317-320
Author(s):  
Søren S. Larsen

AbstractThis contribution gives an update on on-going efforts to characterise the detailed chemical abundances of Local Group globular clusters (GCs) from integrated-light spectroscopy. Observations of a sample of 20 GCs so far, located primarily within dwarf galaxies, show that at low metallicities the [α/Fe] ratios are generally indistinguishable from those in Milky Way GCs. However, the “knee” above which [α/Fe] decreases towards Solar-scaled values occurs at lower metallicities in the dwarfs, implying that GCs follow the same trends seen in field stars. Efforts are underway to establish NLTE corrections for integrated-light abundance measurements, and preliminary results for Mn are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S317) ◽  
pp. 120-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren S. Larsen

AbstractThroughout most of the Local Group, globular clusters (GCs) remain recognisable as extended objects in ground-based images taken in good seeing conditions. However, studying the full extent of the GC systems is challenging because of the large sky area that needs to be surveyed and recent years have seen dramatic progress in our knowledge of GC populations in nearby galaxies, thanks to large imaging surveys. At the same time, techniques for deriving detailed abundances from integrated-light spectra of GCs are maturing so that detailed comparisons of the chemical composition for GCs in different galaxies can now be made. Such comparisons may shed important light on the properties of proto-galactic fragments that were accreted onto galaxy halos. Nevertheless, our census of Local Group GCs probably remains far from complete, in particular at low luminosities and for very extended clusters.


1975 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 541-543
Author(s):  
A. V. Mironov ◽  
N. N. Samus'

The dependences of the numbers of variable stars in globular clusters on the chemical composition are studied. For given metallicity the numbers of RR Lyrae stars reduced to some definite total number of stars in the cluster are different for the two groups of globular clusters introduced by Mironov.


2014 ◽  
Vol 565 ◽  
pp. A98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren S. Larsen ◽  
Jean P. Brodie ◽  
Duncan A. Forbes ◽  
Jay Strader

1973 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
Steven Van Agt

Interest in dwarf spheroidal galaxies is motivated by a number of reasons; an important one on the occasion of this colloquium is the abundance of variable stars. The theory of stellar evolution and stellar pulsations is now able to predict from theoretical considerations characteristic properties of variable stars in the colour-magnitude diagram (Iben, 1971). By observing the variable stars in the field, and in as wide a selection of objects as possible, more insight can be obtained into the history of the oldest members of our Galaxy (the globular clusters) and of the dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Local Group. It is worthwhile to explore the spheroidal galaxies as observational tests for the theoretical predictions of conditions in space away from our Galaxy. The numbers of variable stars in the dwarf spheroidal galaxies are such that we may expect well-defined relations to emerge once reliable magnitude sequences have been set up, the variable stars found, and their periods determined. Six dwarf spheroidal galaxies are presently known in the Local Group within a distance of 250 kpc. In Table I, which lists members of the Local Group, they are at the low-luminosity end of the sequence of elliptical galaxies (van den Bergh, 1968).


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 165-169
Author(s):  
Margarita E. Sharina ◽  
Vladislav V. Shimansky

AbstractThe study of ages, helium mass fraction (Y) and chemical composition of globular clusters in dwarf galaxies is important for understanding the physical conditions at the main evolutionary stages of the host galaxies and for constraining the build-up histories of large galaxies. We present the analysis of integrated-light spectra of 8 extragalactic and 20 Galactic globular clusters (GCs) using our population synthesis method. We calculate synthetic spectra of GCs according to the defined stellar mass functions using model atmospheres and stellar parameters ([Fe/H], Teff, and logg) set by theoretical isochrones. The main advantage of our method is the ability to determine not only chemical composition but also the age and mean Y in a cluster by modelling and analysis of Balmer absorption lines. The knowledge of Y and anomalies of light elements in star clusters is one of the key points for understanding the phenomenon of multiple stellar populations.


2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 94-104
Author(s):  
Eva K. Grebel

I summarize our knowledge of star clusters and associations in irregular galaxies other than the Magellanic Clouds in the Local Group. Surveys affording complete area coverage at high angular resolution are still lacking. Confirmed globular clusters are known only in NGC 6822 and WLM. Very few dIrrs contain populous or sparse open clusters. There is a pronounced deficiency of intermediate-age and young clusters. Apart from parent galaxy mass, the lack of interactions may be a key reason for the lack of cluster formation in the dIrrs. All dIrrs have one or several short-lived OB associations in the star-forming regions in their centers.


1964 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 354-357
Author(s):  
S. C. B. Gascoigne

There are about 50 clusters in the Magellanic Clouds which from their spherical symmetry, integrated colours, and luminosities appear similar to the globular clusters in the Galaxy. The colour-magnitude diagrams of these clusters should give moduli for the Clouds, indications of the age and chemical composition of the clusters themselves, and perhaps some information about the evolutionary tracks of old stars generally. The first investigation of this kind was carried out by Arp on the SMC clusters NGC 361 and 419. This was followed by papers by Eggen and Sandage and by the writer on NGC 1783 in the LMC, and by Tifft (1962) on NGC 121 in the SMC. Of these four clusters only NGC 121 appeared really similar to a galactic globular cluster, the others displaying features not reproduced by any known cluster in the Galaxy. Further work was clearly needed to clarify the problems raised by these results, and a program for the systematic observation of the colour-magnitude diagrams of red clusters in the Clouds was accordingly begun here in September 1961. This contribution is a progress report on this program.


1978 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 169-172
Author(s):  
M. Spite ◽  
F. Spite

Until very recently, estimates of the chemical composition at early epochs of the Galaxy were made through the analysis of halo field stars. Recently, however some medium dispersion studies of stars in globular clusters have appeared. It would be expected that both approaches would lead to identical results. However, a quick glance at the literature gives the opposite impression.


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