scholarly journals Synthetic spectroscopic indices for identifying multiple stellar populations in globular clusters

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (2) ◽  
pp. 2195-2206
Author(s):  
Emanuele Bertone ◽  
Miguel Chávez ◽  
J César Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Stellar Model ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
Atmospheric Parameters ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Spectral Diagnostics ◽  
Red Giant

ABSTRACT We present an investigation of synthetic spectroscopic indices that can plausibly help in identifying the presence of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters. The study is based on a new grid of stellar model atmospheres and high-resolution (R  = 500 000) synthetic spectra, that consider chemical partitions that have been singled out in Galactic globular clusters. The data base is composed of 3472 model atmospheres and theoretical spectra calculated with the collection of Fortran codes DFSYNTHE, ATLAS9 and SYNTHE, developed by Robert L. Kurucz. They cover a range of effective temperature from 4300 to 7000 K, surface gravity from 2.0 to 5.0 dex and four different chemical compositions. A set of 19 spectroscopic indices were calculated from a degraded version (R  = 2500) of the theoretical spectra data set. The set includes five indices previously used in the context of globular clusters analyses and 14 indices that we have newly defined by maximizing the capability of differentiating the chemical compositions. We explored the effects of atmospheric parameters on the index values and identified the optimal spectral diagnostics that allow to trace the signatures of objects of different stellar populations, located in the main sequence, the red giant branch and the horizontal branch. We found a suitable set of indices, that mostly involve molecular bands (in particular NH, but also CH and CN), that are very promising for spectroscopically identifying multiple stellar populations in globular clusters.

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 Globular clusters and the evolution of their multiple stellar populations

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (S316) ◽  
pp. 328-333
Author(s):  
W. Chantereau ◽  
C. Charbonnel ◽  
G. Meynet
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Sequence Band ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Chemical Distribution ◽  
Host Stars

AbstractOur knowledge of the formation and early evolution of globular clusters (GCs) has been totally shaken with the discovery of the peculiar chemical properties of their long-lived host stars. Therefore, the interpretation of the observed Colour Magnitude Diagrams (CMD) and of the properties of the GC stellar populations requires the use of new stellar models computed with relevant chemical compositions. In this paper we use the grid of evolution models for low-mass stars computed by Chantereau et al. (2015) with the initial compositions of second-generation stars as predicted by the fast rotating massive stars scenario to build synthesis models of GCs. We discuss the implications of the assumed initial chemical distribution on 13 Gyr isochrones. We build population synthesis models to predict the fraction of stars born with various helium abundances in present day globular clusters (assuming an age of 13 Gyr). With the current assumptions, 61 % of stars on the main sequence are predicted to be born with a helium abundance in mass fraction, Yini, smaller than 0.3 and only 11 % have a Yini larger than 0.4. Along the horizontal branch, the fraction of stars with Yini inferior to 0.3 is similar to that obtained along the main sequence band (63 %), while the fraction of very He-enriched stars is significantly decreased (only 3 % with Yini larger than 0.38).

scholarly journals Exploring the nature and synchronicity of early cluster formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud – IV. Evidence for multiple populations in Hodge 11 and NGC 2210

2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (4) ◽  
pp. 5581-5599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina K Gilligan ◽  
Brian Chaboyer ◽  
Jeffrey D Cummings ◽  
Dougal Mackey ◽  
Roger E Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
Advanced Camera For Surveys

Abstract We present a multiple population search in two old Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Globular clusters, Hodge 11 and NGC 2210. This work uses data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope from programme GO-14164 in Cycle 23. Both of these clusters exhibit a broadened main sequence with the second population representing (20 ± ∼5) per cent for NGC 2210 and (30 ± ∼5) per cent for Hodge 11. In both clusters, the smaller population is redder than the primary population, suggesting CNO variations. Hodge 11 also displays a bluer second population in the horizontal branch, which is evidence for helium enhancement. However, even though NGC 2210 shows similarities to Hodge 11 in the main sequence, there does not appear to be a second population on NGC 2210’s horizontal branch. This is the first photometric evidence that ancient LMC Globular clusters exhibit multiple stellar populations.

scholarly journals Mass-loss law for red giant stars in simple population globular clusters

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (1) ◽  
pp. 694-703
Author(s):  
M Tailo ◽  
A P Milone ◽  
E P Lagioia ◽  
F D’Antona ◽  
S Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Multiple Populations ◽  
Mass Losses ◽  
Red Giant ◽  
Stellar Masses

ABSTRACT The amount of mass lost by stars during the red-giant branch (RGB) phase is one of the main parameters to understand and correctly model the late stages of stellar evolution. Nevertheless, a fully comprehensive knowledge of the RGB mass-loss is still missing. Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs) are ideal targets to derive empirical formulations of mass-loss, but the presence of multiple populations with different chemical compositions has been a major challenge to constrain stellar masses and RGB mass-losses. Recent work has disentangled the distinct stellar populations along the RGB and the horizontal branch (HB) of 46 GCs, thus providing the possibility to estimate the RGB mass-loss of each stellar population. The mass-losses inferred for the stellar populations with pristine chemical composition (called first-generation or 1G stars) tightly correlate with cluster metallicity. This finding allows us to derive an empirical RGB mass-loss law for 1G stars. In this paper, we investigate seven GCs with no evidence of multiple populations and derive the RGB mass-loss by means of high-precision Hubble-Space Telescope photometry and accurate synthetic photometry. We find a cluster-to-cluster variation in the mass-loss ranging from ∼0.1 to ∼0.3 M⊙. The RGB mass-loss of simple-population GCs correlates with the metallicity of the host cluster. The discovery that simple-population GCs and 1G stars of multiple population GCs follow similar mass-loss versus metallicity relations suggests that the resulting mass-loss law is a standard outcome of stellar evolution.

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 Current Problems in Horizontal-Branch Theory: Some Implications for RR Lyrae Variables

1985 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 268-271
Author(s):  
Pierre Demarque
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Evolutionary Status ◽  
List Type ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
Rr Lyrae

There are a number of good reasons for wanting to improve our understanding of the structure and evolutionary status of horizontal-branch (HB) stars. To mention a few:1)The HB morphology of globular clusters can be used as a tool for studying the evolution of the galactic halo (Searle and Zinn 1978) and the time scale for halo collapse (Demarque 1980; Zinn 1980).2)HB stars offer an opportunity to evaluate the helium abundance of globular clusters. This can be done either by using the R-method (Cole et al. 1983) or the width of the RR Lyrae instability strip [Deupree 1977; but see also the paper by Stellingwerf (1984) in these preceedings which casts doubt on the validity of previous calculations of the dependence of the blue edge on helium content].3)HB stars may play an important role in understanding the integrated light of old stellar systems. In particular, blue HB stars seem to make a significant contribution to the ultraviolet light of elliptical galaxies. (Ciardullo and Demarque 1978; Gunn, Tinsley and Stryker 1981). At the same time, HB stars are believed to be the direct progenitors of asymptotic giant branch stars which have proved to be powerful tracers of stellar populations in nearby external systems (Blanco et al. 1980)4)The RR Lyrae variables are part of the HB population. One would wish to relate the observable properties of RR Lyrae variables to their chemical compositions and ages so as to use them: a) as distance indicators for galactic globular clusters (Sandage 1982a,b) and in the Magellanic Clouds; b) as tracers of stellar populations. This has been attempted for the galactic halo and disk by Sandage (1982a,b) and for the Magellanic Clouds by Butler et al. (1982).

scholarly journals Study of the Helium Enrichment in Globular Clusters

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S262) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
Aldo A. R. Valcarce ◽  
Márcio Catelan
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
Previous Generation ◽  
Horizontal Branch Stars

AbstractGlobular clusters (GCs) are spheroidal concentrations typically containing of the order of 105 to 106, predominantly old, stars. Historically, they have been considered as the closest counterparts of the idealized concept of “simple stellar populations.” However, some recent observations suggest than, at least in some GCs, some stars are present that have been formed with material processed by a previous generation of stars. In this sense, it has also been suggested that such material might be enriched in helium, and that blue horizontal branch stars in some GCs should accordingly be the natural progeny of such helium-enhanced stars. In this contribution we show that, at least in the case of M3 (NGC 5272), the suggested level of helium enrichment is not supported by the available, high-precision observations.

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.

Globular clusters and their link with stellar populations in the Milky Way

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
David Yong
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Chemical Abundance ◽  
Chemical Enrichment ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractObservations of stellar chemical compositions enable us to identify connections between globular clusters and stellar populations in the Milky Way. In particular, chemical abundance ratios provide detailed insight into the chemical enrichment histories of star clusters and the field populations. For some elements, there are striking differences between field and cluster stars which reflect different nucleosynthetic processes and/or chemical evolution. The goal of this talk was to provide an overview of similarities and differences in chemical compositions between globular clusters and the Milky Way as well as highlighting a few areas for further examination.

scholarly journals Population Models for Massive Globular Clusters

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (H16) ◽  
pp. 247-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Wook Lee ◽  
Seok-Joo Joo ◽  
Sang-Il Han ◽  
Chongsam Na ◽  
Dongwook Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Space ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Heavy Element ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Population Modeling ◽  
Stellar Populations ◽  
Population Models ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Hr Diagram

Increasing number of massive globular clusters (GCs) in the Milky Way are now turned out to host multiple stellar populations having different heavy element abundances enriched by supernovae. Recent observations have further shown that [CNO/Fe] is also enhanced in metal-rich subpopulations in most of these GCs, including ω Cen and M22 (Marino et al. 2011, 2012). In order to reflect this in our population modeling, we have expanded the parameter space of Y2 isochrones and horizontal-branch (HB) evolutionary tracks to include the cases of normal and enhanced nitrogen abundances ([N/Fe] = 0.0, 0.8, and 1.6). The observed variations in the total CNO content were reproduced by interpolating these nitrogen enhanced stellar models. Our test simulations with varying N and O abundances show that, once the total CNO sum ([CNO/Fe]) is held constant, both N and O have almost identical effects on the HR diagram (see Fig. 1).

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