Browsing by Subject "giant stars"
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Item The ACS Survey Of Galactic Globular Clusters. VII. Relative Ages(2009-04) Marin-Franch, Antonio; Aparicio, Antonio; Piotto, Giampaolo; Rosenberg, Alfred; Chaboyer, Brian; Sarajedini, Ata; Siegel, Michael; Anderson, Jay; Bedin, Luigi R.; Dotter, Aaron; Hempel, Maren; King, Ivan; Majewski, Steven; Milone, Antonino P.; Paust, Nathaniel; Reid, I. Neill; Siegel, MichaelThe ACS Survey of Galactic globular clusters is a Hubble Space Telescope Treasury program designed to provide a new large, deep, and homogeneous photometric database. Based on observations from this program, we have measured precise relative ages for a sample of 64 Galactic globular clusters by comparing the relative position of the clusters' main-sequence (MS) turnoffs, using MS fitting to cross-compare clusters within the sample. This method provides relative ages to a formal precision of 2%-7%. We demonstrate that the calculated relative ages are independent of the choice of theoretical model. We find that the Galactic globular cluster sample can be divided into two groups-a population of old clusters with an age dispersion of similar to 5% and no age-metallicity relation, and a group of younger clusters with an age-metallicity relation similar to that of the globular clusters associated with the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. These results are consistent with the Milky Way halo having formed in two phases or processes. The first one would be compatible with a rapid (< 0.8 Gyr) assembling process of the halo, in which the clusters in the old group were formed. Also these clusters could have been formed before re-ionization in dwarf galaxies that would later merge to build the Milky Way halo as predicted by Lambda CDM cosmology. However, the galactocentric metallicity gradient shown by these clusters seems difficult to reconcile with the latter. As for the younger clusters, it is very tempting to argue that their origin is related to their formation within Milky Way satellite galaxies that were later accreted, but the origin of the age-metallicity relation remains unclear.Item The APOGEE Red-Clump Catalog: Precise Distances, Velocities, And High-Resolution Elemental Abundances Over A Large Area Of The Milky Way's Disk(2014-08) Bovy, Jo; Nidever, David L.; Rix, Hans-Walter; Girardi, Leo; Zasowski, Gail; Chojnowski, S. Drew; Holtzman, Jon; Epstein, Courtney; Frinchaboy, Peter M.; Hayden, Michael R.; Rodrigues, Thaise S.; Majewski, Steven R.; Johnson, Jennifer A.; Pinsonneault, Marc H.; Stello, Dennis; Prieto, Carlos Allende; Andrews, Brett; Basu, Sarbani; Beers, Timothy C.; Bizyaev, Dmitry; Burton, Adam; Chaplin, William J.; Cunha, Katia; Elsworth, Yvonne; Garcia, Rafael A.; Garcia-Hernandez, Domingo A.; Garcia Perez, Ana E.; Hearty, Fred R.; Hekker, Saskia; Kallinger, Thomas; Kinemuchi, Karen; Koesterke, Lars; Meszaros, Szabolcs; Mosser, Benoit; O'Connell, Robert W.; Oravetz, Daniel; Pan, Kaike; Robin, Annie C.; Schiavon, Ricardo P.; Schneider, Donald P.; Schultheis, Mathias; Serenelli, Aldo; Shetrone, Matthew; Aguirre, Victor Silva; Simmons, Audrey; Skrutskie, Michael; Smith, Verne V.; Stassun, Keivan; Weinberg, David H.; Wilson, John C.; Zamora, Olga; Shetrone, MatthewThe Sloan Digital Sky Survey III's Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) is a high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopic survey covering all of the major components of the Galaxy, including the dust-obscured regions of the inner Milky Way disk and bulge. Here we present a sample of 10,341 likely red-clump stars (RC) from the first two years of APOGEE operations, selected based on their position in color-metallicity-surface-gravity-effective-temperature space using a new method calibrated using stellar evolution models and high-quality asteroseismology data. The narrowness of the RC locus in color-metallicity-luminosity space allows us to assign distances to the stars with an accuracy of 5%-10%. The sample extends to typical distances of about 3 kpc from the Sun, with some stars out to 8 kpc, and spans a volume of approximately 100 kpc(3) over 5 kpc less than or similar to R less than or similar to 14 kpc, vertical bar Z vertical bar less than or similar to 2 kpc, and -15 degrees less than or similar to Galactocentric azimuth less than or similar to 30 degrees. The APOGEE red-clump (APOGEE-RC) catalog contains photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, reddening estimates, distances, line-of-sight velocities, stellar parameters and elemental abundances determined from the high-resolution APOGEE spectra, and matches to major proper motion catalogs. We determine the survey selection function for this data set and discuss how the RC selection samples the underlying stellar populations. We use this sample to limit any azimuthal variations in the median metallicity within the approximate to 45 degrees azimuthal region covered by the current sample to be <= 0.02 dex, which is more than an order of magnitude smaller than the radial metallicity gradient. This result constrains coherent non-axisymmetric flows within a few kiloparsecs from the Sun.Item Atmospheric Composition Of Weak G Band Stars: CNO And Li Abundances(2013-03) Adamczak, Jens; Lambert, David L.; Adamczak, Jens; Lambert, David L.We determined the chemical composition of a large sample of weak G band stars-a rare class of G and K giants of intermediate mass with unusual abundances of C, N, and Li. We have observed 24 weak G band stars with the 2.7 m Harlan J. Smith Telescope at the McDonald Observatory and derived spectroscopic abundances for C, N, O, and Li, as well as for selected elements from Na-Eu. The results show that the atmospheres of weak G band stars are highly contaminated with CN-cycle products. The C underabundance is about a factor of 20 larger than for normal giants and the C-12/C-13 ratio approaches the CN-cycle equilibrium value. In addition to the striking CN-cycle signature the strong N overabundance may indicate the presence of partially ON-cycled material in the atmospheres of the weak G band stars. The exact mechanism responsible for the transport of the elements to the surface has yet to be identified but could be induced by rapid rotation of the main sequence progenitors of the stars. The unusually high Li abundances in some of the stars are an indicator for Li production by the Cameron-Fowler mechanism. A quantitative prediction of a weak G band star's Li abundance is complicated by the strong temperature sensitivity of the mechanism and its participants. In addition to the unusual abundances of CN-cycle elements and Li, we find an overabundance of Na that is in accordance with the NeNa chain running in parallel with the CN cycle. Apart from these peculiarities, the element abundances in a weak G band star's atmosphere are consistent with those of normal giants.Item HE 1327-2326, An Unevolved Star With Fe/H < -5.0. II. New 3D-1D Corrected Abundances From A Very Large Telescope UVES Spectrum(2008-09) Frebel, Anna; Collet, Remo; Eriksson, Kiell; Christlieb, Norbert; Aoki, Wako; Frebel, AnnaWe present a new abundance analysis of HE 1327-2326, which is currently the most iron-poor star, based on observational data obtained with the VLT Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES). We correct the one-dimensional (1D) LTE abundances for three-dimensional (3D) effects to provide an abundance pattern that supersedes previous works and should be used to observationally test current models of the chemical yields of the first-generation supernovae (SNe). Apart from confirming the 1D LTE abundances found in previous studies before accounting for 3D effects, we make use of a novel technique to apply the 3D 1D corrections for CNO which are a function of excitation potential and line strength for the molecular lines that comprise the observable CH, NH, and OH features. We find that the fit to the NH band at 33608 is greatly improved due to the application of the 3D-1D corrections. This may indicate that 3D effects are actually observable in this star. We also report the first detection of several weak Ni lines. The cosmologically important element Li is still not detected; the new Li upper limit is extremely low, A(Li) < 0: 62, and in stark contrast with results not only from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) but also from other metal-poor stars. We also discuss how the new corrected abundance pattern of HE 1327-2326 is being reproduced by individual and integrated yields of SNe.Item High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Extremely Metal-Poor Stars In The Least Evolved Galaxies: Ursa Major II And Coma Berenices(2010-01) Frebel, Anna; Simon, Joshua D.; Geha, Marla; Willman, Beth; Frebel, AnnaWe present spectra of six metal-poor stars in two of the ultra-faint dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way (MW), Ursa Major II, and Coma Berenices obtained with the Keck/High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES). These observations include the first high-resolution spectroscopic observations of extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -3.0) stars not belonging to the MW halo field star population. We obtain abundance measurements and upper limits for 26 elements between carbon and europium. The entire sample of stars spans a range of -3.2 < [Fe/H] < -2.3, and we confirm that each galaxy contains a large intrinsic spread of Fe abundances. A comparison with MW halo stars of similar metallicities reveals substantial agreement between the abundance patterns of the ultra-faint dwarf galaxies and the MW halo for the light, alpha, and iron-peak elements (C to Zn). This agreement contrasts with the results of earlier studies of more metal-rich stars (-2.5 less than or similar to [Fe/H] less than or similar to -1.0) in more luminous dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which found significant abundance discrepancies with respect to the MW halo data. The abundances of neutron-capture elements (Sr to Eu) in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxies are extremely low, consistent with the most metal-poor halo stars, but not with the typical halo abundance pattern at [Fe/H] greater than or similar to -3.0. Not only are our results broadly consistent with a galaxy formation model that predicts that massive dwarf galaxies are the source of the metal-rich component ([Fe/H] > -2.5) of the MW halo, but they also suggest that the faintest known dwarfs may be the primary contributors to the metal-poor end of the MW halo metallicity distribution.Item The Magnesium Isotopologues of MgH in the A(2)Pi-X-2 Sigma(+) System(2013-08) Hinkle, Kenneth H.; Wallace, Lloyd; Ram, Ram S.; Bernath, Peter F.; Sneden, Christopher; Lucatello, Sara; Sneden, ChristopherUsing laboratory hollow cathode spectra we have identified lines of the less common magnesium isotopologues of MgH, (MgH)-Mg-25 and (MgH)-Mg-26, in the A(2)Pi-X-2 Sigma(+) system. Based on the previous analysis of (MgH)-Mg-24, molecular lines have been measured and molecular constants derived for (MgH)-Mg-25 and (MgH)-Mg-26. Term values and linelists, in both wavenumber and wavelength units, are presented. The A(2)Pi-X-2 Sigma(+) system of MgH is important for measuring the magnesium isotope ratios in stars. Examples of analysis using the new linelists to derive the Mg isotope ratio in a metal poor dwarf and giant are shown.Item The O-Na And Mg-Al Anticorrelations In Turn-Off And Early Subgiants In Globular Clusters(2001-04) Gratton, R. G.; Bonifacio, P.; Bragaglia, A.; Carretta, E.; Castellani, V.; Centurion, M.; Chieffi, A.; Claudi, R.; Clementini, G.; D'Antona, F.; Desidera, S.; Francois, P.; Grundahl, F.; Lucatello, S.; Molaro, P.; Pasquini, L.; Sneden, Christopher; Spite, F.; Straniero, O.; Sneden, ChristopherHigh dispersion spectra (R greater than or similar to 40 000) for a quite large number of stars at the main sequence turn-off and at the base of the giant branch in NGC 6397 and NGC 6752 were obtained with the UVES on Kueyen (VLT UT2). The [Fe/H] values we found are -2.03 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.04 and -1.42 +/- 0.02 +/- 0.04 for NGC 6397 and NGC 6752 respectively, where the first error bars refer to internal and the second ones to systematic errors (within the abundance scale defined by our analysis of 25 subdwarfs with good Hipparcos parallaxes). In both clusters the [Fe/H]'s obtained for TO-stars agree perfectly (within a few percent) with that obtained for stars at the base of the RGB. The [O/Fe] = 0.21 +/- 0.05 value Re obtain for NGC 6397 is quite low, but it agrees with previous results obtained for giants in this cluster. Moreover, the star-to-star scatter in both O and Fe is very small, indicating that this small mass cluster is chemically very homogenous. On the other hand, our results show clearly and for the first time that the O-Na anticorrelation (up to now seen only for stars on the red giant branches of globular clusters) is present among unevolved stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752, a more massive cluster than NGC 6397. A similar anticorrelation is present also for Mg and Al, and C and N. It is very difficult to explain the observed Na-OI and Mg-Al anticorrelation in NGC 6752 stars by a deep mixing scenario; we think it requires some non internal mechanism.Item Oxygen Abundances In Low- And High-Alpha Field Halo Stars And The Discovery Of Two Field Stars Born In Globular Clusters(2012-10) Ramirez, Ivan; Melendez, Jorge; Chaname, J.; Ramirez, IvanOxygen abundances of 67 dwarf stars in the metallicity range -1.6 < [Fe/H] < -0.4 are derived from a non-LTE analysis of the 777 nm O I triplet lines. These stars have precise atmospheric parameters measured by Nissen and Schuster, who find that they separate into three groups based on their kinematics and alpha-element (Mg, Si, Ca, Ti) abundances: thick disk, high-alpha halo, and low-alpha halo. We find the oxygen abundance trends of thick-disk and high-alpha halo stars very similar. The low-alpha stars show a larger star-to-star scatter in [O/Fe] at a given [Fe/H] and have systematically lower oxygen abundances compared to the other two groups. Thus, we find the behavior of oxygen abundances in these groups of stars similar to that of the a elements. We use previously published oxygen abundance data of disk and very metal-poor halo stars to present an overall view (-2.3 < [Fe/H] < +0.3) of oxygen abundance trends of stars in the solar neighborhood. Two field halo dwarf stars stand out in their O and Na abundances. Both G53-41 and G150-40 have very low oxygen and very high sodium abundances, which are key signatures of the abundance anomalies observed in globular cluster (GC) stars. Therefore, they are likely field halo stars born in GCs. If true, we estimate that at least 3% +/- 2% of the local field metal-poor star population was born in GCs.Item Trimming Down The Willman 1 dSph(2008-06) Siegel, Michael H.; Shetrone, Matthew D.; Irwin, Michael; Siegel, Michael H.; Shetrone, Matthew D.Willman 1 is a small low-surface-brightness object identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and tentatively classified as a very low luminosity dSph galaxy. Further study has supported this classification while hinting that it may be undergoing disruption by the Milky Way potential. In an effort to better constrain the nature of Willman 1, we present a comprehensive analysis of the brightest stars in a 0.6 deg(2) field centered on the overdensity. High-resolution Hobby-Eberly Terlescope (HET) spectra of two previously identified Willman 1 red giant branch (RGB) stars show that one is a metal-rich foreground dwarf while the other is a metal-poor giant. The one RGB star that we confirm as a member of Willman 1 has a low metallicity ([Fe/H] = -2.2) and a surprisingly low alpha-element abundance ([alpha/Fe]= -0.11). Washington+DDO51 photometry indicates that 2-5 of the seven brightest Willman 1 stars identified in previous studies are actually dwarf stars, including some of the more metal-rich stars that have been used to argue both for an abundance spread and a more metal-rich stellar population than galaxies of similar luminosity. The remaining stars are too blue or too faint for photometric classification. The Washington+DDO51 photometry identifies three potential RGB stars in the field but HET spectra show that they are background halo stars. Time series photometry identifies one apparent variable star in the field, but it is unlikely to be associated with Willman 1. Our wide-field survey indicates that over 0.6 deg(2), Willman 1 does not have a single RR Lyrae star, a single blue horizontal branch (BHB) star, or a single RGB star beyond its tidal radius. While our results confirm that Willman 1 is most likely a low-luminosity metal-poor dSph galaxy, the possibility remains that it is a tidally disrupted metal-poor globular cluster.