- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/870/83
- Title:
- Abundances in the ultra-faint dwarf gal. GruI & TriII
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/870/83
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present high-resolution spectroscopy of four stars in two candidate ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs), GrusI (GruI) and TriangulumII (TriII). Neither object currently has a clearly determined velocity dispersion, placing them in an ambiguous region of parameter space between dwarf galaxies and globular clusters (GCs). No significant metallicity difference is found for the two GruI stars, but both stars are deficient in neutron-capture elements. We verify previous results that TriII displays significant spreads in metallicity and [{alpha}/Fe]. Neutron-capture elements are not detected in our TriII data, but we place upper limits at the lower envelope of Galactic halo stars, consistent with previous very low detections. Stars with similarly low neutron-capture element abundances are common in UFDs but rare in other environments. This signature of low neutron-capture element abundances traces chemical enrichment in the least massive star-forming dark matter halos and further shows that the dominant sources of neutron-capture elements in metal-poor stars are rare. In contrast, all known GCs have similar ratios of neutron-capture elements to those of halo stars, suggesting that GCs do not form at the centers of their own dark matter halos. The low neutron-capture element abundances may be the strongest evidence that GruI and TriII are (or once were) galaxies rather than GCs, and we expect future observations of these systems to robustly find nonzero velocity dispersions or signs of tidal disruption. However, the nucleosynthetic origin of this low neutron-capture element floor remains unknown.
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Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/797/13
- Title:
- Abundances of bright metal-poor stars
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/797/13
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The chemical abundances of large samples of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars can be used to investigate metal-free stellar populations, supernovae, and nucleosynthesis as well as the formation and galactic chemical evolution of the Milky Way and its progenitor halos. However, current progress on the study of EMP stars is being limited by their faint apparent magnitudes. The acquisition of high signal-to-noise spectra for faint EMP stars requires a major telescope time commitment, making the construction of large samples of EMP star abundances prohibitively expensive. We have developed a new, efficient selection that uses only public, all-sky APASS optical, 2MASS near-infrared, and WISE mid-infrared photometry to identify bright metal-poor star candidates through their lack of molecular absorption near 4.6 microns.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/148/67
- Title:
- Abundances of 156 bulge red giants
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/148/67
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present radial velocities and chemical abundances of O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu for a sample of 156 red giant branch stars in two Galactic bulge fields centered near (l,b)=(+5.25,-3.02) and (0,-12). The (+5.25,-3.02) field also includes observations of the bulge globular cluster NGC 6553. The results are based on high-resolution (R~20000), high signal-to-noise ration (S/N>~70) FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectra obtained through the European Southern Observatory archive. However, we only selected a subset of the original observations that included spectra with both high S/N and that did not show strong TiO absorption bands. This work extends previous analyses of this data set beyond Fe and the {alpha}-elements Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti. While we find reasonable agreement with past work, the data presented here indicate that the bulge may exhibit a different chemical composition than the local thick disk, especially at [Fe/H]>~-0.5. In particular, the bulge [{alpha}/Fe] ratios may remain enhanced to a slightly higher [Fe/H] than the thick disk, and the Fe-peak elements Co, Ni, and Cu appear enhanced compared to the disk. There is also some evidence that the [Na/Fe] (but not [Al/Fe]) trends between the bulge and local disk may be different at low and high metallicity. We also find that the velocity dispersion decreases as a function of increasing [Fe/H] for both fields, and do not detect any significant cold, high-velocity populations. A comparison with chemical enrichment models indicates that a significant fraction of hypernovae may be required to explain the bulge abundance trends, and that initial mass functions that are steep, top-heavy (and do not include strong outflow), or truncated to avoid including contributions from stars >40M_{sun}_ are ruled out, in particular because of disagreement with the Fe-peak abundance data. For most elements, the NGC 6553 stars exhibit abundance trends nearly identical to comparable metallicity bulge field stars. However, the star-to-star scatter and mean [Na/Fe] ratios appear higher in the cluster, perhaps indicating additional self-enrichment.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/864/57
- Title:
- Abundances of field & GC RR Lyrae. I. NGC3201
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/864/57
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of horizontal branch stars in the globular cluster NGC 3201. We collected optical (4580-5330{AA}), high-resolution (~34000), high signal-to-noise ratio (~200) spectra for 11 RR Lyrae stars and one red horizontal branch star with the multifiber spectrograph M2FS with the 6.5m Magellan telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory. From measured equivalent widths, we derived atmospheric parameters and abundance ratios for {alpha} (Mg, Ca and Ti), iron-peak (Sc, Cr, Ni and Zn), and s-process (Y) elements. We found that NGC 3201 is a homogeneous, monometallic ([Fe/H]=-1.47+/-0.04), {alpha}-enhanced ([{alpha}/Fe]=0.37+/-0.04) cluster. The relative abundances of the iron-peak and s-process elements were found to be consistent with solar values. In comparison with other large stellar samples, NGC 3201 RR Lyraes have similar chemical enrichment histories as do those of other old (t>=10Gyr) Halo components (globular clusters; red giants; blue and red horizontal branch stars; and RR Lyraes). We also provided a new average radial velocity estimate for NGC 3201 by using a template velocity curve to overcome the limit of single-epoch measurements of variable stars: Vrad=494+/-2km/s ({sigma}=8km/s).
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/131/431
- Title:
- Abundances of Galactic G dwarfs
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/131/431
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have studied 23 long-lived G dwarfs that belong to the thin disk and thick disk stellar populations. The stellar data and analyses are identical, reducing the chances for systematic errors in the comparisons of the chemical abundance patterns in the two populations. Abundances have been derived for 24 elements: O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, and Eu.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/732/108
- Title:
- Abundances of 92 giants in Plaut's window
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/732/108
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present Fe, Si, and Ca abundances for 61 giants in Plaut's window (l=-1{deg}, b=-8.5{deg}) and Fe abundances for an additional 31 giants in a second, nearby field (l=0{deg}, b=-8{deg}) derived from high-resolution (R~25000) spectra obtained with the Blanco 4m telescope and Hydra multifiber spectrograph. The median metallicity of red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Plaut's field is ~0.4dex lower than those in Baade's window, and confirms the presence of an iron abundance gradient along the bulge minor axis. The full metallicity range of our (biased) RGB sample spans -1.5<[Fe/H]<+0.3, which is similar to that found in other bulge fields. We also derive a photometric metallicity distribution function for RGB stars in the (l=-1{deg}, b=-8.5{deg}) field and find very good agreement with the spectroscopic metallicity distribution. The radial velocity (RV) and dispersion data for the bulge RGB stars are in agreement with previous results of the Bulge Radial Velocity Assay survey, and we find evidence for a decreasing velocity dispersion with increasing [Fe/H]. The [{alpha}/Fe] enhancement in Plaut field stars is nearly identical to that observed in Baade's window, and suggests that an [{alpha}/Fe] gradient does not exist between b=-4{deg} and -8{deg}. Additionally, a subset of our sample (23 stars) appears to be foreground red clump stars that are very metal rich, exhibit small metallicity and RV dispersions, and are enhanced in {alpha} elements. While these stars likely belong to the Galactic inner disk population, they exhibit [{alpha}/Fe] ratios that are enhanced above the thin and thick disk.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/368/250
- Title:
- Abundances of HDE 341617
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/368/250
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Detailed atmospheric abundances have been calculated for a sample of A-G supergiant stars with IR fluxes and/or high galactic latitudes. HD 172481 and HD 158616 show clear indications of being post-AGB stars that have experienced third dredge-up. HD 158616 is carbon-rich while the abundance pattern of HD 172481 and its large Li enhancement gives support to the hot bottom burning scenario that explains paucity of carbon-rich stars among AGB stars. HD 172324 is very likely a hot post-AGB star that shows a strong carbon deficiency. HD 725, HD 218753 and HD 331319 also appear to be evolved objects between the red giant and the AGB. HD 9167, HD 173638 with a few exceptions, reflect solar abundances and no signs of post red giant evolution. They are most likely young massive disk supergiants. Further analysis of proto-Planetary Nebula HDE 341617 reveals that He lines show signs of velocity stratification. The emission lines have weakened considerably since 1993. The envelope expands at 19km/s relative to the star. Atmospheric abundances, evolutionary tracks and isochrones are used to estimate masses and ages of all stars in the sample.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/882/177
- Title:
- Abundances of 4 member stars of Tucana III
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/882/177
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present a chemical abundance analysis of four additional confirmed member stars of Tucana III, a Milky Way satellite galaxy candidate in the process of being tidally disrupted as it is accreted by the Galaxy. Two of these stars are centrally located in the core of the galaxy while the other two stars are located in the eastern and western tidal tails. The four stars have chemical abundance patterns consistent with the one previously studied star in Tucana III: they are moderately enhanced in r-process elements, i.e., they have <[Eu/Fe]>~+0.4dex. The non-neutron-capture elements generally follow trends seen in other dwarf galaxies, including a metallicity range of 0.44 dex and the expected trend in {alpha}-elements, i.e., the lower metallicity stars have higher Ca and Ti abundances. Overall, the chemical abundance patterns of these stars suggest that Tucana III was an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy, and not a globular cluster, before being tidally disturbed. As is the case for the one other galaxy dominated by r-process enhanced stars, Reticulum II, Tucana III's stellar chemical abundances are consistent with pollution from ejecta produced by a binary neutron star merger, although a different r-process element or dilution gas mass is required to explain the abundances in these two galaxies if a neutron star merger is the sole source of r-process enhancement.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/857/74
- Title:
- Abundances of 7 new member stars in Tucana II
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/857/74
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present chemical abundance measurements for seven stars with metallicities ranging from [Fe/H]=-3.3 to [Fe/H]=-2.4 in the TucanaII ultra-faint dwarf galaxy (UFD), based on high-resolution spectra obtained with the MIKE spectrograph on the 6.5m Magellan-Clay Telescope. For three stars, we present detailed chemical abundances for the first time. Of those, two stars are newly discovered members of Tucana II and were selected as probable members from deep narrowband photometry of the Tucana II UFD taken with the SkyMapper telescope. This result demonstrates the potential for photometrically identifying members of dwarf galaxy systems based on chemical composition. One new star was selected from the membership catalog of Walker+ (2016, J/ApJ/819/53). The other four stars in our sample have been reanalyzed, following additional observations. Overall, six stars have chemical abundances that are characteristic of the UFD stellar population. The seventh star shows chemical abundances that are discrepant from the other Tucana II members and an atypical, higher strontium abundance than what is expected for typical UFD stars. While unlikely, its strontium abundance raises the possibility that it may be a foreground metal-poor halo star with the same systemic velocity as Tucana II. If we were to exclude this star, Tucana II would satisfy the criteria to be a surviving first galaxy. Otherwise, this star implies that Tucana II has likely experienced somewhat extended chemical evolution.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/763/61
- Title:
- Abundances of 7 red giant members of BootesI
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/763/61
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present a double-blind analysis of high-dispersion spectra of seven red giant members of the Bootes I ultrafaint dwarf spheroidal galaxy, complemented with re-analysis of a similar spectrum of an eighth-member star. The stars cover [Fe/H] from -3.7 to -1.9 and include a CEMP-no star with [Fe/H]=-3.33. We conclude from our chemical abundance data that Bootes I has evolved as a self-enriching star-forming system, from essentially primordial initial abundances. This allows us uniquely to investigate the place of CEMP-no stars in a chemically evolving system, in addition to limiting the timescale of star formation. The elemental abundances are formally consistent with a halo-like distribution, with enhanced mean [{alpha}/Fe] and small scatter about the mean. This is in accord with the high-mass stellar initial mass function in this low-stellar-density, low-metallicity system being indistinguishable from the present-day solar neighborhood value. There is a non-significant hint of a decline in [{alpha}/Fe] with [Fe/H]; together with the low scatter, this requires low star formation rates, allowing time for supernova ejecta to be mixed over the large spatial scales of interest. One star has very high [Ti/Fe], but we do not confirm a previously published high value of [Mg/Fe] for another star. We discuss the existence of CEMP-no stars, and the absence of any stars with lower CEMP-no enhancements at higher [Fe/H], a situation that is consistent with knowledge of CEMP-no stars in the Galactic field. We show that this observation requires there be two enrichment paths at very low metallicities: CEMP-no and "carbon-normal."