Paper XLIV
Radial velocities from VLT-KMOS spectra of giant stars in the globular cluster NGC 6388
Lapenna E.; Origlia L.; Mucciarelli A.; Lanzoni B.; Ferraro F.R.; Dalessandro E.; Valenti E.; Cirasuolo M.
We present new radial velocity measurements for 82 stars, members of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6388, obtained from ESO-VLT KMOS spectra acquired during the instrument Science Verification. The accuracy of the wave- length calibration is discussed and a number of tests of the KMOS response are presented. The cluster systemic velocity obtained (81.3 \pm 1.5 km/s) is in very good agreement with previous determinations. While a hint of ordered rotation is found between 9" and 20" from the cluster centre, where the distribution of radial velocities is clearly bimodal, more data are needed before drawing any firm conclusions. The acquired sample of radial velocities has been also used to deter- mine the cluster velocity dispersion profile between ~9" and 70", supplementing previous measurements at r < 2" and r > 60" obtained with ESO-SINFONI and ESO-FLAMES spectroscopy, respectively. The new portion of the velocity dispersion profile nicely matches the previous ones, better defining the knee of the distribution. The present work clearly shows the effectiveness of a deployable Integral Field Unit in measuring the radial velocities of individual stars for deter- mining the velocity dispersion profile of Galactic globular clusters. It represents the pilot project for an ongoing large program with KMOS and FLAMES at the ESO-VLT, aimed at determining the next generation of velocity dispersion and rotation profiles for a representative sample of globular clusters.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 798, 23). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1410.5825
Paper XLV
Probing the role of dynamical friction in shaping the BSS radial distribution. I - Semi-analytical models and preliminary N-body simulations
Miocchi P.; Pasquato M.; Lanzoni B.; Ferraro F.R.; Dalessandro E.; Vesperini E.; Alessandrini E.; Lee Y.W.
We present semi-analytical models and simplified N-body simulations with 10^4 particles aimed at probing the role of dynamical friction (DF) in determining the radial distribution of Blue Straggler Stars (BSSs) in globular clusters. The semi-analytical models show that DF (which is the only evolutionary mechanism at work) is responsible for the formation of a bimodal distribution with a dip progressively moving toward the external regions of the cluster. However, these models fail to reproduce the formation of the long-lived central peak observed in all dynamically evolved clusters. The results of N-body simulations confirm the formation of a sharp central peak, which remains as a stable feature over the time regardless of the initial concentration of the system. In spite of a noisy behavior, a bimodal distribution forms in many cases, with the size of the dip increasing as a function of time. In the most advanced stages the distribution becomes monotonic. These results are in agreement with the observations. Also the shape of the peak and the location of the minimum (which in most of the cases is within 10 core radii) turn out to be consistent with observational results. For a more detailed and close comparison with observations, including a proper calibration of the timescales of the dynamical processes driving the evolution of the BSS spatial distribution, more realistic simulations will be necessary.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 799, 44). PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1411.2161
Paper XLVI
The temperature distribution of horizontal branch stars: methods and first results
Lagioia E.P.; Dalessandro E.; Ferraro F.R.; Salaris M.; Lanzoni B.; Pietrinferni A.; Cassisi S.
As part of a large project aimed at characterizing the ultraviolet (UV) properties of globular clusters, we present here a theoretical and observational analysis aimed at setting the framework for the determination of horizontal branch (HB) temperature distributions. Indeed this is a crucial information to understand the physical parameters shaping the HB morphology in globular clusters and to interpret the UV emission from unresolved stellar systems. We found that the use of zero age HB color-Teff relations is a robust way to derive effective temperatures of individual HB stars. We investigated the most suitable colors for temperature estimates, and the effect on the color-Teff relations of variations of the initial chemical composition, and of the evolution off the zero age horizontal branch. As a test case, we applied our color-Teff calibrations to the Galactic globular cluster M15. The photometry of M15 has been obtained with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the HST. The HB of M15 turned out to have a multimodal distribution, with a main component peaked at Teff ~8,000K and confined below Teff ~10,000K. The second component is peaked at Teff ~14,000K and extends up to Teff ~20,000K. The vast majority (~95%) of the HB stars in M15 is below 20,000 K, in agreement with the lack of a well populated extreme HB observed in other metal-poor globular clusters. We also verified that the temperatures derived with our analysis are consistent with spectroscopic estimates available in the literature.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 800, 52). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1412.0627
2015
Paper XLVIII
The binary mass transfer origin of the red blue straggler sequence in M30
Xin Y.; Ferraro F.R.; Lu P.; Deng L.; Lanzoni B.; Dalessandro E.; Beccari G.
Two separated sequences of blue straggler stars (BSSs) have been revealed by Ferraro et al. (2009) in the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of the Milky Way globular cluster M30. Their presence has been suggested to be related to the two BSS formation channels (namely, collisions and mass-transfer in close binaries) operating within the same stellar system. The blue sequence was indeed found to be well reproduced by collisional BSS models. In contrast, no specific models for mass transfer BSSs were available for an old stellar system like M30. Here we present binary evolution models, including case-B mass transfer and binary merging, specifically calculated for this cluster. We discuss in detail the evolutionary track of a 0.9+0.5 Msol binary, which spends approximately 4 Gyr in the BSS region of the CMD of a 13 Gyr old cluster. We also run Monte-Carlo simulations to study the distribution of mass transfer BSSs in the CMD and to compare it with the observational data. Our results show that: (1) the color and magnitude distribution of synthetic mass transfer BSSs defines a strip in the CMD that nicely matches the observed red BSS sequence, thus providing strong support to the mass transfer origin for these stars; (2) the CMD distribution of synthetic BSSs never attains the observed location of the blue BSS sequence, thus reinforcing the hypothesis that the latter formed through a different channel (likely collisions); (3) most (~60%) of the synthetic BSSs are produced by mass-transfer models, while the remaining <40% requires the contribution from merger models.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 801,67). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1501.01358
Paper XLIX
The origin of the spurious iron spread in the globular cluster NGC 3201
Mucciarelli A.; Lapenna E.; Massari D.; Ferraro F.R.; Lanzoni B.
NGC 3201 is a globular cluster suspected to have an intrinsic spread in the iron content. We re-analysed a sample of 21 cluster stars observed with UVES-FLAMES at the Very Large Telescope and for which Simmerer et al. found a 0.4 dex wide [Fe/H] distribution with a metal-poor tail. We confirmed that when spectroscopic gravities are adopted, the derived [Fe/H] distribution spans ~0.4 dex. On the other hand, when photometric gravities are used, the metallicity distribution from Fe I lines remains large, while that derived from Fe II lines is narrow and compatible with no iron spread. We demonstrate that the metal-poor component claimed by Simmerer et al. is composed by asymptotic giant branch stars that could be affected by non local thermodynamical equilibrium effects driven by iron overionization. This leads to a decrease of the Fe I abundance, while leaving the Fe II abundance unaltered. A similar finding has been already found in asymptotic giant branch stars of the globular clusters M5 and 47 Tucanae. We conclude that NGC 3201 is a normal cluster, with no evidence of intrinsic iron spread..
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 801,69). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1501.01968
Paper XLIVII
The Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. I. Overview of the Project and Detection of Multiple Stellar Populations
Piotto G., et al.
In this paper we describe a new UV-initiative HST project (GO-13297) that will complement the existing F606W and F814W database of the ACS Globular Cluster (GC) Treasury by imaging most of its clusters through UV/blue WFC3/UVIS filters F275W, F336W and F438W. This "magic trio" of filters has shown an uncanny ability to disentangle and characterize multiple-population (MP) patterns in GCs in a way that is exquisitely sensitive to C, N, and O abundance variations. Combination of these passbands with those in the optical also gives the best leverage for measuring helium enrichment. The dozen clusters that had previously been observed in these bands exhibit a bewildering variety of MP patterns, and the new survey will map the full variance of the phenomenon. The ubiquity of multiple stellar generations in GCs has made the formation of these cornerstone objects more intriguing than ever; GC formation and the origin of their MPs have now become one and the same problem. In the present paper we will describe the data base and our data reduction strategy, as well as the uses we intend to make of the final photometry, astrometry, and proper motions. We will also present preliminary color-magnitude diagrams from the data so far collected. These diagrams also draw on data from GO-12605 and GO-12311, which served as a pilot project for the present GO-13297.
This paper has been published in the Astronomical Journal (2015, AJ, 149, 91). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1410.4564
Paper L (see Press Releases)
GEMINI/GeMS observations unveil the structure of the heavily obscured globular cluster Liller 1
Saracino S.; Dalessandro E.; Ferraro F.R.; Lanzoni B.; Geisler D.; Mauro F.; villanova S.; Moni Bidin C.; Miocchi P.; Mssari D.
By exploiting the exceptional high-resolution capabilities of the near-IR camera GSAOI combined with the multi-conjugate adaptive optics system GeMS at the GEMINI South Telescope, we investigated the structural and physical properties of the heavily obscured globular cluster Liller 1 in the Galactic bulge. We have obtained the deepest and most accurate color-magnitude diagram published so far for this cluster, reaching Ks ~19 (below the main sequence turn-off level). We used these data to re-determine the center of gravity of the system, finding that it is located about 2.2" south-east from the literature value. We also built new star density and surface brightness profiles for the cluster, and re-derived its main structural and physical parameters (scale radii, concentration parameter, central mass density, total mass). We find that Liller 1 is significantly less concentrated (concentration parameter c=1.74) and less extended (tidal radius r_t=298" and core radius r_c=5.39") than previously thought. By using these newly determined structural parameters we estimated the mass of Liller 1 M_tot = 2.3 x 10^6 Msun (Mtot = 1.5 x 10^6 Msun for a Kroupa IMF), which is comparable to that of the most massive clusters in the Galaxy (omega Centauri and Terzan 5). Also Liller 1 has the second highest collision rate (after Terzan 5) among all star clusters in the Galaxy, thus confirming that it is an ideal environment for the formation of collisional objects (such as millisecond pulsars).
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 806,152). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1505.00568
Paper LI
Radio Timing and Optical Photometry of the Black Widow System PSR J1953+1846A in the Globular Cluster M71
Cadelano M.; Pallanca C.; Ferraro F.R.; Stairs I.; Ransom S.M.; Dalessandro E.; Lanzoni B.; Hessel J.W.T.; Freire P.C.C.
We report on the determination of the astrometric, spin and orbital parameters for PSR J1953+1846A, a "black widow" binary millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster M71. By using the accurate position and orbital parameters obtained from radio timing, we identified the optical companion in ACS/Hubble Space Telescope images. It turns out to be a faint (m_F606W>=24, m_F814W>=23) and variable star located at only ~0.06" from the pulsar timing position. The light curve shows a maximum at the pulsar inferior conjunction and a minimum at the pulsar superior conjunction, thus confirming the association with the system. The shape of the optical modulation suggests that the companion star is heated, likely by the pulsar wind. The comparison with the X-ray light curve possibly suggests the presence of an intra-binary shock due to the interaction between the pulsar wind and the material released by the companion. This is the second identification (after COM-M5C) of an optical companion to a black widow pulsar in a globular cluster. Interestingly, the two companions show a similar light curve and share the same position in the color magnitude diagram.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 807,91). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1505.03531
Paper LII
Probing the MSP prenatal stage: the optical identification of the X-ray burster EXO 1745-248 in Terzan 5
Ferraro F.R.; Pallanca C.; Lanzoni B.; Cadelano M.; Massari D.; Dalessandro E.; Mucciarelli A.
We report on the optical identification of the neutron star burster EXO 1745-248 in Terzan 5. The identification was performed by exploiting HST/ACS images acquired in Director's Discretionary Time shortly after (approximately 1 month) the Swift detection of the X-ray burst. The comparison between these images and previous archival data revealed the presence of a star that currently brightened by ~3 magnitudes, consistent with expectations during an X-ray outburst. The centroid of this object well agrees with the position, in the archival images, of a star located in the Turn-Off/Sub Giant Branch region of Terzan 5. This supports the scenario that the companion should has recently filled its Roche Lobe. Such a system represents the pre-natal stage of a millisecond pulsar, an evolutionary phase during which heavy mass accretion on the compact object occurs, thus producing X-ray outbursts and re-accelerating the neutron star.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letter (2015, ApJL, 807,L1). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1506.03219
Paper LVI
Proper motions in Terzan 5: membership of the multi-iron sub-populations and first constrain to the orbit
Massari D.; Dalessandro E.; Ferraro F.R.; Miocchi P.; Bellini A.; Origlia L.; Lanzoni B.; Rich R. M., Mucciarelli A.
By exploiting two sets of high-resolution images obtained with HST ACS/WFC over a baseline of ~10 years we have measured relative proper motions of ~70,000 stars in the stellar system Terzan 5. The results confirm the membership of the three sub-populations with different iron abudances discovered in the system. The orbit of the system has been derived from a first estimate of its absolute proper motion, obtained by using bulge stars as reference. The results of the integration of this orbit within an axisymmetric Galactic model exclude any external accretion origin for this cluster. Terzan 5 is known to have chemistry similar to the Galactic bulge; our findings support a kinematic link between the cluster and the bulge, further strengthening the possibility that Terzan 5 is the fossil remnant of one of the pristine clumps that originated the bulge.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 810,69). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1507.03020
Paper LIII
A chemical trompe-l'oeil: no iron spread in the globular cluster M22
Mucciarelli A.; Lapenna E.; Massari D.; Pancino E.; Stetson P.B.; Ferraro F.R.; Lanzoni B.; Lardo C.
We present the analysis of high-resolution spectra obtained with UVES and UVES-FLAMES at the Very Large Telescope of 17 giants in the globular cluster M22, a stellar system suspected to have an intrinsic spread in the iron abundance. We find that when surface gravities are derived spectroscopically (by imposing to obtain the same iron abundance from FeI and FeII lines) the [Fe/H] distribution spans ~0.5 dex, according to previous analyses. However, the gravities obtained in this way correspond to unrealistic low stellar masses (0.1-0.5 Msun) for most of the surveyed giants. Instead, when photometric gravities are adopted, the [FeII/H] distribution shows no evidence of spread at variance with the [FeI/H] distribution. This difference has been recently observed in other clusters and could be due to non-local thermodynamical equilibrium effects driven by over-ionization mechanisms, that mainly affect the neutral species (thus providing lower [FeI/H]) but leave [FeII/H] unaltered. We confirm that the s-process elements show significant star-to-star variations and their abundances appear to be correlated with the difference between [FeI/H] and [FeII/H]. This puzzling finding suggests that the peculiar chemical composition of some cluster stars may be related to effects able to spuriously decrease [FeI/H]. We conclude that M22 is a globular cluster with no evidence of intrinsic iron spread, ruling out that it has retained the supernovae ejecta in its gravitational potential well.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 809, 128). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1507.01596
Paper LV
No evidence of mass segregation in the low mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101
Dalessandro E.; Ferraro F.R.; Massari D.; Lanzoni B.; Miocchi P.; Beccari G.
We used a combination of Hubble Space Telescope and ground based data to probe the dynamical state of the low mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101. We have re-derived the structural parameters of the cluster by using star counts and we find that it is about three times more extended than thought before. By using three different indicators, namely the radial distribution of Blue Straggler Stars, that of Main Sequence binaries and the luminosity (mass) function, we demonstrated that NGC 6101 shows no evidence of mass segregation, even in the innermost regions. Indeed, both the BSS and the binary radial distributions fully resemble that of any other cluster population. In addition the slope of the luminosity (mass) functions does not change with the distance, as expected for non relaxed stellar systems. NGC 6101 is one of the few globulars where the absence of mass segregation has been observed so far. This result provides additional support to the use of the "dynamical clock" calibrated on the radial distribution of the Blue Stragglers as a powerful indicator of the cluster dynamical age.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 810,40). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1507.04776
Paper LIX
Gemini optical observations of binary millisecond pulsars
Testa V.; Mignani R. P.; Pallanca C.; Corongiu A.; Ferraro F. R.
Milli-second pulsars (MSPs) are rapidly spinning neutron stars, with spin periods Ps <= 10 ms, which have been most likely spun up after a phase of matter accretion from a companion star. In this work we present the results of the search for the companion stars of four binary milli-second pulsars, carried out with archival data from the Gemini South telescope. Based upon a very good positional coincidence with the pulsar radio coordinates, we likely identified the companion stars to three MSPs, namely PSRJ0614-3329 (g=21.95 +- 0.05), J1231-1411 (g=25.40 +-0.23), and J2017+0603 (g=24.72 +- 0.28). For the last pulsar (PSRJ0613-0200) the identification was hampered by the presence of a bright star (g=16 +- 0.03) at ~2" from the pulsar radio coordinates and we could only set 3-sigma upper limits of g=25.0, r= 24.3, and i= 24.2 on the magnitudes of its companion star. The candidate companion stars to PSRJ0614-3329, J1231-1411, and J2017+0603 can be tentatively identified as He white dwarfs (WDs) on the basis of their optical colours and brightness and the comparison with stellar model tracks. From the comparison of our multi-band photometry with stellar model tracks we also obtained possible ranges on the mass, temperature, and gravity of the candidate WD companions to these three MSPs. Optical spectroscopy observations are needed to confirm their possible classification as He WDs and accurately measure their stellar parameters.used a combination of Hubble Space Telescope and ground based data to probe the dynamical state of the low mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101. We have re-derived the structural parameters of the cluster by using star counts and we find that it is about three times more extended than thought before. By using three different indicators, namely the radial distribution of Blue Straggler Stars, that of Main Sequence binaries and the luminosity (mass) function, we demonstrated that NGC 6101 shows no evidence of mass segregation, even in the innermost regions. Indeed, both the BSS and the binary radial distributions fully resemble that of any other cluster population. In addition the slope of the luminosity (mass) functions does not change with the distance, as expected for non relaxed stellar systems. NGC 6101 is one of the few globulars where the absence of mass segregation has been observed so far. This result provides additional support to the use of the "dynamical clock" calibrated on the radial distribution of the Blue Stragglers as a powerful indicator of the cluster dynamical age.
This paper has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2015, MNRAS, 453, 4159). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1508.04780
Paper LVII
Optical Identification of He White Dwarfs Orbiting Four Millisecond Pulsars in the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae
Cadelano M.; Pallanca C.; Ferraro F. R.; Salaris M.; Dalessandro E.; Lanzoni B.; Freire P. C. C.
We used ultra-deep UV observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope to search for optical companions to binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae. We identified four new counterparts (to MSPs 47TucQ, 47TucS, 47TucT and 47TucY) and confirmed those already known (to MSPs 47TucU and 47TucW). In the color magnitude diagram, the detected companions are located in a region between the main sequence and the CO white dwarf cooling sequences, consistent with the cooling tracks of He white dwarfs of mass between 0.15 Msun and 0.20 Msun. For each identified companion, mass, cooling age, temperature and pulsar mass (as a function of the inclination angle) have been derived and discussed. For 47TucU we also found that the past accretion history likely proceeded in a sub-Eddington rate. The companion to the redback 47TucW is confirmed to be a non degenerate star, with properties particularly similar to those observed for black widow systems. Two stars have been identified within the 2-sigma astrometric uncertainty from the radio positions of 47TucH and 47TucI, but the available data prevent us from firmly assessing whether they are the true companions of these two MSPs.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 812, 63). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1509.01397
Paper LIV
Blue Straggler Masses from Pulsation Properties. II. Topology of the Instability Strip
Fiorentino G.; Marconi M.; Bono G.; Dalessandro E.; Ferraro F.R.; Lanzoni B.; Lovisi L.; Mucciarelli A.
We present a new set of nonlinear, convective radial pulsation models for main sequence stars computed assuming three metallicities: Z=0.0001, 0.001 and 0.008. These chemical compositions bracket the metallicity of stellar systems hosting SX Phoenicis stars (SXPs or pulsating Blue Stragglers), namely Galactic globular clusters and nearby dwarf spheroidals. Stellar masses and luminosities of the pulsation models are based on alpha--enhanced evolutionary tracks from the BASTI website. We are able to define the topology of the instability strip (IS), and in turn the pulsation relations for the first four pulsation modes. We found that third overtones approach a stable nonlinear limit cycle. Predicted and empirical IS agree quite well in the case of 49 SXPs belonging to omega Cen. We used theoretical Period-Luminosity relations in B,V bands to identify their pulsation mode. We assumed Z=0.001 and Z=0.008 as mean metallicities of SXPs in omega Cen. We found respectively 13-15 fundamental, 22-6 first and 9-4 second overtone modes. Five are unstable in the third overtone mode only for Z=0.001. Using the above mode identification and applying the proper mass-dependent Period-Luminosity relations we found masses ranging from ~1.0 to 1.2 Mo (<M>=1.12, sigma=0.04 Mo) and from ~1.2 to 1.5 Mo (<M>=1.33, sigma=0.03 Mo) for Z=0.001 and 0.008 respectively. Our investigation supports the use of evolutionary tracks to estimate of SXP masses. We will extend our analysis to higher Helium content that may have an impact in our understanding of the BSS formation scenario.
This paper has been published in the Astrophysical Journal (2015, ApJ, 810, 15). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1507.06603
Paper LX
Deep Multi-telescope Photometry of NGC 5466. II. The Radial Behavior of the Mass Function Slope
Beccari G.; Dalessandro E.; Lanzoni B.; Ferraro F.R.; Bellazzini M.; Sollima A.
We use a combination of data acquired with the Advanced Camera for Survey on board the Hubble Space Telescope and the Large Binocular Camera (LBC-blue) mounted on the Large Binocular Telescope to sample the main sequence (MS) stars of the globular cluster (GC) NGC 5466 in the mass range 0.3<M/Msun<0.8. We derive the cluster's Luminosity Function (LF) in several radial regions, from the center of the cluster out to the tidal radius. After corrections for incompleteness and field contamination, this was compared to theoretical LFs, obtained by multiplying a simple power-law mass function in the form dN/dm \propto m^alpha by the derivative of the mass-luminosity relationship of the best-fit isochrone. We find that \alpha varies from -0.6 in the core region to -1.9 in the outer region. This fact allows us to prove by observation that the stars in NGC 5466 have experienced the effects of mass segregation. We compare the radial variation of \alpha from the center out to 5 core radii (rc) in NGC 5466 and the GC M10, finding that the gradient of \alpha in the first 5 rc is more than a factor of 2 shallower in NGC 5466 than in M10, in line with the differences in the cluster's relaxation timescales. NGC 5466 is dynamically younger than M10, with two-body relaxation processes only recently starting to shape the distribution of MS stars. This result fully agrees with the conclusion obtained in our previous works on the radial distribution of blue straggler stars, further confirming that this can be used as an efficient clock to measure the dynamical age of stellar systems.
This paper has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2015, ApJ, 814, 144). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1511.00829
Paper LVIII
Chemical Analysis of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars in M62
Lapenna E.; Mucciarelli A.; Ferraro F. R.; Origlia L.; Lanzoni B.; Massari D.; Dalessandro E.
We have collected UVES-FLAMES high-resolution spectra for a sample of 6 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and 13 red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster (GC) M62 (NGC 6266). Here we present the detailed abundance analysis of iron, titanium, and light elements (O, Na, Mg, and Al). For the majority (five out of six) of the AGB targets, we find that the abundances of both iron and titanium determined from neutral lines are significantly underestimated with respect to those obtained from ionized features, the latter being, instead, in agreement with those measured for the RGB targets. This is similar to recent findings in other clusters and may suggest the presence of nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects. In the O-Na, Al-Mg, and Na-Al planes, the RGB stars show the typical correlations observed for GC stars. Instead, all the AGB targets are clumped in the regions where first-generation stars are expected to lie, similar to what was recently found for the AGB population of NGC 6752. While the sodium and aluminum abundances could be underestimated as a consequence of the NLTE bias affecting iron and titanium, the oxygen line used does not suffer from the same effects, and the lack of O-poor AGB stars therefore is a solid result. We can thus conclude that none of the investigated AGB stars belongs to the second stellar generation of M62. We also find an RGB star with extremely high sodium abundance ([Na/Fe] =+1.08 dex).
This paper has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2015, ApJ, 813, 97). A PDF copy of the preprint is also available on the astro-ph server at this address arXiv:1509.08917