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Description
We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of RR Lyrae (RRL) variables in the globular cluster NGC5139 ({omega} Cen). We collected optical (4580-5330{AA}), high-resolution (R~34000), high signal-to-noise ratio (~200) spectra for 113 RRLs with the multifiber spectrograph M2FS at the Magellan/Clay Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We also analyzed high- resolution (R~26000) spectra for 122 RRLs collected with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at the Very Large Telescope, available in the ESO archive. The current sample doubles the literature abundances of cluster and field RRLs in the Milky Way based on high-resolution spectra. Equivalent-width measurements were used to estimate atmospheric parameters, iron, and abundance ratios for {alpha} (Mg, Ca, Ti), iron peak (Sc, Cr, Ni, Zn), and s-process (Y) elements. We confirm that {omega}Cen is a complex cluster, characterized by a large spread in the iron content: -2.58<~[Fe/H]<~-0.85. We estimated the average cluster abundance as <[Fe/H]>=-1.80{+/-}0.03, with {sigma}=0.33dex. Our findings also suggest that two different RRL populations coexist in the cluster. The former is more metal-poor ([Fe/H]<~-1.5), with almost solar abundance of Y. The latter is less numerous, more metal-rich, and yttrium enhanced ([Y/Fe]>~0.4). This peculiar bimodal enrichment only shows up in the s-process element, and it is not observed among lighter elements, whose [X/Fe] ratios are typical for Galactic globular clusters.
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