- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/767/134
- Title:
- Abundances of red giant stars in UFD galaxies
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/767/134
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The Milky Way ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) galaxies contain some of the oldest, most metal-poor stars in the universe. We present [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe], [Ca/Fe], [Ti/Fe], and mean [{alpha}/Fe] abundance ratios for 61 individual red giant branch stars across eight UFDs. This is the largest sample of alpha abundances published to date in galaxies with absolute magnitudes M_V_>-8, including the first measurements for Segue 1, Canes Venatici II, Ursa Major I, and Leo T. Abundances were determined via medium-resolution Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy and spectral synthesis. The sample spans the metallicity range -3.4<[Fe/H]<-1.1. With the possible exception of Segue 1 and Ursa Major II, the individual UFDs show on average lower [{alpha}/Fe] at higher metallicities, consistent with enrichment from Type Ia supernovae. Thus, even the faintest galaxies have undergone at least a limited level of chemical self-enrichment. Together with recent photometric studies, this suggests that star formation in the UFDs was not a single burst, but instead lasted at least as much as the minimum time delay of the onset of Type Ia supernovae (~100Myr) and less than ~2Gyr. We further show that the combined population of UFDs has an [{alpha}/Fe] abundance pattern that is inconsistent with a flat, Galactic halo-like alpha abundance trend, and is also qualitatively different from that of the more luminous CVn I dSph, which does show a hint of a plateau at very low [Fe/H].
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- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/830/93
- Title:
- Abundances of the Ret II brightest red giant members
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/830/93
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present chemical abundances derived from high-resolution Magellan/Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle spectra of the nine brightest known red giant members of the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Reticulum II (Ret II). These stars span the full metallicity range of Ret II (-3.5<[Fe/H]< -2). Seven of the nine stars have extremely high levels of r-process material ([Eu/Fe]~1.7), in contrast to the extremely low neutron-capture element abundances found in every other ultra-faint dwarf galaxy studied to date. The other two stars are the most metal-poor stars in the system ([Fe/H]< -3), and they have neutron-capture element abundance limits similar to those in other ultra-faint dwarf galaxies. We confirm that the relative abundances of Sr, Y, and Zr in these stars are similar to those found in r-process halo stars, but they are ~0.5dex lower than the solar r-process pattern. If the universal r-process pattern extends to those elements, the stars in Ret II display the least contaminated known r-process pattern. The abundances of lighter elements up to the iron peak are otherwise similar to abundances of stars in the halo and in other ultra-faint dwarf galaxies. However, the scatter in abundance ratios is large enough to suggest that inhomogeneous metal mixing is required to explain the chemical evolution of this galaxy. The presence of low amounts of neutron-capture elements in other ultra-faint dwarf galaxies may imply the existence of additional r-process sites besides the source of r-process elements in Ret II. Galaxies like Ret II may be the original birth sites of r-process enhanced stars now found in the halo.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/855/83
- Title:
- Abundances of very metal-poor stars in Sagittarius
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/855/83
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Sagittarius (Sgr) is a massive disrupted dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the Milky Way halo that has undergone several stripping events. Previous chemical studies were restricted mainly to a few, metal-rich ([Fe/H]>~-1) stars that suggested a top-light initial mass function (IMF). Here we present the first high-resolution, very metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-1 to -3) sample of 13 giant stars in the main body of Sgr. We derive abundances of 13 elements, namely C, Ca, Co, Fe, Sr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Dy, Pb, and Th, that challenge the interpretation based on previous studies. Our abundances from Sgr mimic those of the metal-poor halo, and our most metal-poor star ([Fe/H]~-3) indicates a pure r-process pollution. Abundances of Sr, Pb, and Th are presented for the first time in Sgr, allowing for age determination using nuclear cosmochronology. We calculate ages of 9+/-2.5Gyr. Most of the sample stars have been enriched by a range of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with masses between 1.3 and 5M_{sun}_. SgrJ190651.47-320147.23 shows a large overabundance of Pb (2.05dex) and a peculiar abundance pattern best fit by a 3M_{sun}_ AGB star. Based on star-to-star scatter and observed abundance patterns, a mixture of low- and high-mass AGB stars and supernovae (15-25M_{sun}_) is necessary to explain these patterns. The high level (0.29+/-0.05dex) of Ca indicates that massive supernovae must have existed and polluted the early ISM of Sgr before it lost its gas. This result is in contrast with a top-light IMF with no massive stars polluting Sgr.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/723/1632
- Title:
- Abundance spreads in Bootes I and Segue 1
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/723/1632
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present an AAOmega spectroscopic study of red giants in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Bootes I (M_V_~-6) and the Segue 1 system (M_V_~-1.5), either an extremely low luminosity dwarf galaxy or an unusually extended globular cluster. Both Bootes I and Segue 1 have significant abundance dispersions in iron and carbon. Bootes I has a mean abundance of [Fe/H]=-2.55+/-0.11 with an [Fe/H] dispersion of {sigma}=0.37+/-0.08, and abundance spreads of {Delta}[Fe/H]=1.7 and {Delta}[C/H]=1.5. Segue 1 has a mean of [Fe/H]=-2.7+/-0.4 with [Fe/H] dispersion of {sigma}=0.7+/-0.3, and abundances spreads of {Delta}[Fe/H]=1.6 and {Delta}[C/H]=1.2. Moreover, Segue 1 has a radial-velocity member at four half-light radii that is extremely metal-poor and carbon-rich, with [Fe/H]=-3.5, and [C/Fe]=+2.3. Modulo an unlikely non-member contamination, the [Fe/H] abundance dispersion confirms Segue 1 as the least-luminous ultra-faint dwarf galaxy known.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/538/A100
- Title:
- Abundances red giants in Carina dSph
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/538/A100
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The ages of individual Red Giant Branch stars can range from 1Gyr old to the age of the Universe, and it is believed that the abundances of most chemical elements in their photospheres remain unchanged with time (those that are not affected by the first dredge-up). This means that they trace the interstellar medium in the galaxy at the time the star formed, and hence the chemical enrichment history of the galaxy. Colour-Magnitude Diagram analysis has shown the Carina dwarf spheroidal to have had an unusually episodic star formation history and this is expected to be reflected in the abundances of different chemical elements.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/152/208
- Title:
- Ages and metallicities for M31 star clusters
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/152/208
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Application of fitting techniques to obtain physical parameters-such as ages, metallicities, and {alpha}-element to iron ratios-of stellar populations is an important approach to understanding the nature of both galaxies and globular clusters (GCs). In fact, fitting methods based on different underlying models may yield different results and with varying precision. In this paper, we have selected 22 confirmed M31 GCs for which we do not have access to previously known spectroscopic metallicities. Most are located at approximately one degree (in projection) from the galactic center. We performed spectroscopic observations with the 6.5m MMT telescope, equipped with its Red Channel Spectrograph. Lick/IDS absorption-line indices, radial velocities, ages, and metallicities were derived based on the EZ_Ages stellar population parameter calculator. We also applied full spectral fitting with the ULySS code to constrain the parameters of our sample star clusters. In addition, we performed {chi}_min_^2^ fitting of the clusters' Lick/IDS indices with different models, including the Bruzual & Charlot models (adopting Chabrier or Salpeter stellar initial mass functions and 1994 or 2000 Padova stellar evolutionary tracks), the galev, and the Thomas et al. models. For comparison, we collected their UVBRIJK photometry from the Revised Bologna Catalogue (v.5) to obtain and fit the GCs' spectral energy distributions (SEDs). Finally, we performed fits using a combination of Lick/IDS indices and SEDs. The latter results are more reliable and the associated error bars become significantly smaller than those resulting from either our Lick/IDS indices-only or our SED-only fits.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/883/128
- Title:
- alpha & Fe abundances in the giant stellar stream
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/883/128
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present the first measurements of [Fe/H] and [{alpha}/Fe] abundances, obtained using spectral synthesis modeling, for red giant branch stars in M31's giant stellar stream (GSS). The spectroscopic observations, obtained at a projected distance of 17kpc from M31's center, yielded 61 stars with [Fe/H] measurements, including 21 stars with [{alpha}/Fe] measurements, from 112 targets identified as M31 stars. The [Fe/H] measurements confirm the expectation from photometric metallicity estimates that stars in this region of M31's halo are relatively metal rich compared to stars in the Milky Way's inner halo: more than half the stars in the field, including those not associated with kinematically identified substructure, have [Fe/H] abundances >-1.0. The stars in this field are {alpha}-enhanced at lower metallicities, while [{alpha}/Fe] decreases with increasing [Fe/H] above metallicities of [Fe/H]>~-0.9. Three kinematical components have been previously identified in this field: the GSS, a second kinematically cold feature of unknown origin, and M31's kinematically hot halo. We compare probabilistic [Fe/H] and [{alpha}/Fe] distribution functions for each of the components. The GSS and the second kinematically cold feature have very similar abundance distributions, while the halo component is more metal poor. Although the current sample sizes are small, a comparison of the abundances of stars in the GSS field with abundances of M31 halo and dSph stars from the literature indicate that the progenitor of the stream was likely more massive, and experienced a higher efficiency of star formation, than M31's existing dSphs or the dEs NGC147 and NGC185.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/MNRAS/327/918
- Title:
- CaII in extragalactic red giants
- Short Name:
- J/MNRAS/327/918
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Spectroscopic abundance determinations for stars spanning a Hubble time in age are necessary in order to determine unambiguously the evolutionary histories of galaxies. Using FORS1 in multi-object spectroscopy mode on ANTU (UT1) at the ESO VLT on Paranal, we have obtained near-infrared spectra from which we have measured the equivalent widths of the two strongest Ca II triplet lines to determine metal abundances for a sample of red giant branch stars, selected from ESO NTT optical (I, V-I) photometry of three nearby Local Group galaxies: the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal, the Fornax dwarf spheroidal and the dwarf irregular NGC 6822. The summed equivalent width of the two strongest lines in the Ca II triplet absorption-line feature, centred at 8500{AA}, can be readily converted into an [Fe/H] abundance using the previously established calibrations by Armandroff & Da Costa (1991AJ....101.1329A) and Rutledge, Hesser & Stetson (1997, Cat. <J/PASP/109/883>). We have measured metallicities for 37 stars in Sculptor, 32 stars in Fornax and 23 stars in NGC 6822, yielding more precise estimates of the metallicity distribution functions for these galaxies than it is possible to obtain photometrically. In the case of NGC 6822, this is the first direct measurement of the abundances of the intermediate-age and old stellar populations. We find metallicity spreads in each galaxy which are broadly consistent with the photometric width of the red giant branch, although the abundances of individual stars do not always appear to correspond to their colour. This is almost certainly predominantly due to a highly variable star formation rate with time in these galaxies, which results in a non-uniform, non-globular-cluster-like evolution of the Ca/Fe ratio.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/MNRAS/411/1013
- Title:
- CaII triplet in Sextans dSph galaxy
- Short Name:
- J/MNRAS/411/1013
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We use Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) intermediate-resolution (R~6500) spectra of individual red giant branch stars in the near-infrared Ca ii triplet (CaT) region to investigate the wide-area metallicity properties and internal kinematics of the Sextans dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph). Our final sample consists of 174 probable members of Sextans with accurate line-of-sight velocities (+/-2km/s) and CaT [Fe/H] measurements (+/-0.2dex).
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/618/A122
- Title:
- Cetus dSph stellar chemo-kinematics
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/618/A122
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Cetus is an isolated, dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy at a distance of 755kpc. In order to quantify its stellar chemo-kinematical properties, we observed individual red giants branch stars in Cetus with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) FORS2 instrument, in Mask eXchange Unit (MXU) configuration. The kinematic analysis shows that Cetus is a mainly pressure-supported ({sigma}_v_=11.0^+1.6^_-1.3_km/s), dark-matter-dominated system (M_1/2_/L_V_=23.9^+9.7^_-8.9_M_{sun}_/L_{sun}_) with no significant signs of internal rotation. We find Cetus to be a metal-poor system with a significant metallicity spread (median [Fe/H]=-1.71dex, median-absolute-deviation =0.49dex), as expected for its stellar mass. We report the presence of a mild metallicity gradient compatible with those found in other dSphs of the same luminosity; we trace the presence of a stellar population gradient also in the spatial distribution of stars in different evolutionary phases in ancillary photometric data. There are tentative indications of two chemo-kinematically distinct sub-populations, with the more metal-poor stars showing a hotter kinematics than the metal-richer ones. Our results add Cetus to the growing scatter in stellar-dark matter halo properties in low-mass galactic systems. The presence of a metallicity gradient akin to those found in similar systems inhabiting different environments may hint at metallicity gradients in Local Group early-type dwarfs being driven by internal mechanisms.