Atomic Diffusion and Mixing in Old Stars V: A deeper look into the Globular Cluster NGC 6752

Abundance trends in heavier elements with evolutionary phase have been shown to exist in the globular cluster NGC 6752 [Fe/H]=-1.6. These trends are a result of atomic diffusion and additional (non-convective) mixing. Studying such trends can provide us with important constraints on the extent to which diffusion modifies the internal structure and surface abundances of solar-type, metal-poor stars. Taking advantage of a larger data sample, we investigate the reality and the size of these abundance trends and address questions and potential biases associated with the various stellar populations that make up NGC6752. Based on uvby Str\"omgren photometry, we are able to separate three stellar populations in NGC 6752 along the evolutionary sequence from the base of the red giant branch down to the turnoff point. We find weak systematic abundance trends with evolutionary phase for Ca, Ti, and Fe which are best explained by stellar-structure models including atomic diffusion with efficient additional mixing. We derive a new value for the initial lithium abundance of NGC 6752 after correcting for the effect of atomic diffusion and additional mixing which falls slightly below the predicted standard BBN value. We find three stellar populations by combining photometric and spectroscopic data of 194 stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752. Abundance trends for groups of elements, differently affected by atomic diffusion and additional mixing, are identified. Although the statistical significance of the individual trends is weak, they all support the notion that atomic diffusion is operational along the evolutionary sequence of NGC 6752.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, 2 online table

First evidence of multiple populations along the AGB from Str\"omgren photometry

Spectroscopic studies have demonstrated that nearly all Galactic globular clusters (GCs) harbour multiple stellar populations with different chemical compositions. Moreover, colour-magnitude diagrams based exclusively on Str\"omgrem photometry have allowed us to identify and characterise multiple populations along the RGB of a large number of clusters. In this paper we show for the first time that Str\"omgren photometry is also very effcient at identifying multiple populations along the AGB, and demonstrate that the AGB of M3, M92, NGC362, NGC1851, and NGC6752 are not consistent with a single stellar population. We also provide a catalogue of RGB and AGB stars photometrically identified in these clusters for further spectroscopic follow-up studies.We combined photometry and elemental abundances from the literature for RGB and AGB stars in NGC6752 where the presence of multiple populations along the AGB has been widely debated. We find that, while the MS, SGB, and RGB host three stellar populations with different helium and light element abundances, only two populations of AGB stars are present in the cluster. These results are consistent with standard evolutionary theory.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table in the main article, 3 tables in the appendix of which 2 tables containing coordinates and photometry of photometrically identified RGB and AGB star

Atomic diffusion and mixing in old stars IV: Weak abundance trends in the globular cluster NGC 6752

Atomic diffusion in stars can create systematic trends of surface abundances with evolutionary stage. Globular clusters offer useful laboratories to put observational constraints on this theory as one needs to compare abundances in unevolved and evolved stars, all drawn from the same stellar population. In this paper, we show the results of an abundance study of stars in the globular cluster NGC6752 which shows weak but systematic abundances trends with evolutionary phase for Fe, Sc, Ti and Ca. The trends are best explained by a stellar structure model including atomic diffusion with efficient additional mixing. The model allows to correct for sub-primordial stellar lithium abundances of the stars on the Spite plateau, and to match it to the WMAP-calibrated Big-Bang nucleosynthesis predictions to within the mutual 1-sigma errors.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures and 8 table

Atomic diffusion and mixing in old stars VI: The lithium content of M30

The prediction of the PLANCK-constrained primordial lithium abundance in the Universe is in discordance with the observed Li abundances in warm Population II dwarf and subgiant stars. Among the physically best motivated ideas, it has been suggested that this discrepancy can be alleviated if the stars observed today had undergone photospheric depletion of lithium. The cause of this depletion is investigated by accurately tracing the behaviour of the lithium abundances as a function of effective temperature. Globular clusters are ideal laboratories for such an abundance analysis as the relative stellar parameters of their stars can be precisely determined. We performed a homogeneous chemical abundance analysis of 144 stars in the metal-poor globular cluster M30, ranging from the cluster turnoff point to the tip of the red giant branch. NLTE abundances for Li, Ca, and Fe were derived where possible. Stellar parameters were derived by matching isochrones to the observed V vs V-I colour-magnitude diagram. Independent effective temperatures were obtained from automated profile fitting of the Balmer lines and by applying colour-T_eff calibrations to the broadband photometry. Li abundances of the turnoff and early subgiant stars form a thin plateau that is broken off abruptly in the middle of the SGB as a result of the onset of Li dilution caused by the first dredge-up. Abundance trends with effective temperature for Fe and Ca are observed and compared to predictions from stellar structure models including atomic diffusion and ad hoc additional mixing below the surface convection zone. The comparison shows that the stars in M30 are affected by atomic diffusion and additional mixing. After applying a conservative correction for atomic diffusion, we find an initial Li abundance of A(Li) = $2.48\pm0.10$ for the globular cluster M30.Comment: 13 pages, 7 tables (Tab. 1 and 5 can be obtained at ADS) and 8 figure

The Lyman alpha reference sample. VII. Spatially resolved Hα\alpha kinematics

We present integral field spectroscopic observations with the Potsdam Multi Aperture Spectrophotometer of all 14 galaxies in the $z\sim 0.1$ Lyman Alpha Reference Sample (LARS). We produce 2D line of sight velocity maps and velocity dispersion maps from the Balmer $\alpha$ (H$\alpha$) emission in our data cubes. These maps trace the spectral and spatial properties of the LARS galaxies' intrinsic Ly$\alpha$ radiation field. We show our kinematic maps spatially registered onto the Hubble Space Telescope H$\alpha$ and Lyman $\alpha$ (Ly$\alpha$) images. Only for individual galaxies a causal connection between spatially resolved H$\alpha$ kinematics and Ly$\alpha$ photometry can be conjectured. However, no general trend can be established for the whole sample. Furthermore, we compute non-parametric global kinematical statistics -- intrinsic velocity dispersion $\sigma_0$, shearing velocity $v_\mathrm{shear}$, and the $v_\mathrm{shear}/\sigma_0$ ratio -- from our kinematic maps. In general LARS galaxies are characterised by high intrinsic velocity dispersions (54\,km\,s$^{-1}$ median) and low shearing velocities (65\,km\,s$^{-1}$ median). $v_\mathrm{shear}/\sigma_0$ values range from 0.5 to 3.2 with an average of 1.5. Noteworthy, five galaxies of the sample are dispersion dominated systems with $v_\mathrm{shear}/\sigma_0 <1$ and are thus kinematically similar to turbulent star forming galaxies seen at high redshift. When linking our kinematical statistics to the global LARS Ly$\alpha$ properties, we find that dispersion dominated systems show higher Ly$\alpha$ equivalent widths and higher Ly$\alpha$ escape fractions than systems with $v_\mathrm{shear}/\sigma_0 > 1$. Our result indicates that turbulence in actively star-forming systems is causally connected to interstellar medium conditions that favour an escape of Ly$\alpha$ radiation.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Exploring the Chemical Evolution of Globular Clusters and their Stars : Observational Constraints on Atomic Diffusion and Cluster Pollution in NGC 6752 and M4

Through the cosmic matter cycle, the chemical evolution of the Milky Way is imprinted in the elemental abundance patterns of late-type stars (spectral types F to K). Due to their long lifetimes ( 1 Hubble time), these stars are of particular importance when it comes to studying the build-up of elements during the early times of our Galaxy. The chemical composition of the atmospheric layers of such stars is believed to resemble the gas from which they were formed. However, recent observations in globular clusters seem to contradict this assumption. The observations indicate that processes are at work that alter the surface compositions in these stars. The combined effect of processes responsible for an exchange of material between the stellar interior and atmosphere during the main sequence lifetime of the star, is referred to as atomic diffusion. Yet, the extent to which these processes alter surface abundances is still debated. By comparing abundances in unevolved and evolved stars all drawn from the same stellar population, any surface abundance anomalies can be traced. The anomalies, if found, can be compared to theoretical predictions from stellar structure models including atomic diffusion. Globular clusters provide stellar populations suitable to conduct such a comparison. In this thesis, the results of three independent analyses of two globular clusters, NGC 6752 and M4, at different metallicities are presented. The comparison between observations and models yields constraints on the models and finally a better understanding of the physical processes at work inside stars

Exploring the Chemical Evolution of Globular Clusters and their Stars : Observational Constraints on Atomic Diffusion and Cluster Pollution in NGC 6752 and M4

Through the cosmic matter cycle, the chemical evolution of the Milky Way is imprinted in the elemental abundance patterns of late-type stars (spectral types F to K). Due to their long lifetimes ( 1 Hubble time), these stars are of particular importance when it comes to studying the build-up of elements during the early times of our Galaxy. The chemical composition of the atmospheric layers of such stars is believed to resemble the gas from which they were formed. However, recent observations in globular clusters seem to contradict this assumption. The observations indicate that processes are at work that alter the surface compositions in these stars. The combined effect of processes responsible for an exchange of material between the stellar interior and atmosphere during the main sequence lifetime of the star, is referred to as atomic diffusion. Yet, the extent to which these processes alter surface abundances is still debated. By comparing abundances in unevolved and evolved stars all drawn from the same stellar population, any surface abundance anomalies can be traced. The anomalies, if found, can be compared to theoretical predictions from stellar structure models including atomic diffusion. Globular clusters provide stellar populations suitable to conduct such a comparison. In this thesis, the results of three independent analyses of two globular clusters, NGC 6752 and M4, at different metallicities are presented. The comparison between observations and models yields constraints on the models and finally a better understanding of the physical processes at work inside stars