Search

We present and discuss the results of a search for extremely metal-poor stars based on photometry from data release DR1.1 of the SkyMapper imaging survey of the southern sky. In particular, we outline our photometric selection procedures and describe the low-resolution (R approximate to 3000) spectroscopic follow-up observations that are used to provide estimates of effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity ([Fe/H]) for the candidates. The selection process is very efficient: of the 2618 candidates with low-resolution spectra that have photometric metallicity estimates less than or equal to -2.0, 41 per cent have [Fe/H] <= -2.75 and only approximately seven per cent have [Fe/H] > -2.0 dex. The most metal-poor candidate in the sample has [Fe/H] < -4.75 and is notably carbon rich. Except at the lowest metallicities ([Fe/H] < -4), the stars observed spectroscopically are dominated by a 'carbon-normal' population with [C/Fe](1D, LTE) <= +1 dex. Consideration of the A(C)(1D, LTE) versus [Fe/H](1D, LTE) diagram suggests that the current selection process is strongly biased against stars with A(C)(1D, LTE) > 7.3 (predominantly CEMP-s) while any bias against stars with A(C)(1D, LTE) < 7.3 and [C/Fe](1D, LTE) > +1 (predominantly CEMP-no) is not readily quantifiable given the uncertainty in the SkyMapper v-band DR1.1 photometry. We find that the metallicity distribution function of the observed sample has a power-law slope of Delta(Log N)/Delta[Fe/H] = 1.5 +/- 0.1 dex per dex for -4.0 <= [Fe/H] <= -2.75, but appears to drop abruptly at [Fe/H] approximate to -4.2, in line with previous studies.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

We present results from the analysis of high-resolution spectra obtained with the Keck HIRES spectrograph for a sample of 17 candidate extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars originally selected from commissioning data obtained with the SkyMapper telescope. Fourteen of the stars have not been observed previously at high dispersion. Three have [Fe/H] <= -3.0, while the remainder, with two more metal-rich exceptions, have -3.0 <= [Fe/H] <= -2.0 dex. Apart from Fe, we also derive abundances for the elements C, N, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn, and for n-capture elements Sr, Ba, and Eu. None of the current sample of stars is found to be carbon-rich. In general, our chemical abundances follow previous trends found in the literature, although we note that two of the most metal-poor stars show very low [Ba/Fe] (similar to-1.7) coupled with low [Sr/Ba] (similar to-0.3). Such stars are relatively rare in the Galactic halo. One further star, and possibly two others, meet the criteria for classification as a r-I star. This study, together with that of Jacobson et al. (2015), completes the outcomes of the SkyMapper commissioning data survey for EMP stars.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

We report the discovery of SMSS J160540.18-144323.1, a new ultra metal-poor halo star discovered with the SkyMapper telescope. We measure [Fe/H] = -6.2 +/- 0.2 (1D LTE), the lowest ever detected abundance of iron in a star. The star is strongly carbon-enhanced, [C/Fe] = 3.9 +/- 0.2, while other abundances are compatible with an alpha-enhanced solar-like pattern with [Ca/Fe] = 0.4 +/- 0.2, [Mg/Fe] = 0.6 +/- 0.2, [Ti/Fe] = 0.8 +/- 0.2, and no significant s- or r-process enrichment, [Sr/Fe] < 0.2 and [Ba/Fe] < 1.0 (3 sigma limits). Population III stars exploding as fallback supernovae may explain both the strong carbon enhancement and the apparent lack of enhancement of odd-Z and neutron-capture element abundances. Grids of supernova models computed for metal-free progenitor stars yield good matches for stars of about 10 M circle dot imparting a low kinetic energy on the supernova ejecta, while models for stars more massive than roughly 20 M circle dot are incompatible with the observed abundance pattern.

Large stellar surveys of the MilkyWay require validation with reference to a set of 'benchmark' stars whose fundamental properties are well determined. For metal-poor benchmark stars, disagreement between spectroscopic and interferometric effective temperatures has called the reliability of the temperature scale into question. We present new interferometric measurements of three metal-poor benchmark stars, HD140283, HD122563, and HD103095, from which we determine their effective temperatures. The angular sizes of all the stars were determined from observations with the PAVO beam combiner at visible wavelengths at the CHARA array, with additional observations of HD103095 made with the VEGA instrument, also at the CHARA array. Together with photometrically derived bolometric fluxes, the angular diameters give a direct measurement of the effective temperature. For HD140283, we find theta(LD) = 0.324 +/- 0.005 mas, T-eff = 5787 +/- 48 K; for HD122563,theta(LD) = 0.926 +/- 0.011 mas, T-eff = 4636 +/- 37 K; and for HD103095,theta(LD) = 0.595 +/- 0.007 mas, T-eff = 5140 +/- 49 K. Our temperatures for HD140283 and HD103095 are hotter than the previous interferometric measurements by 253 and 322 K, respectively. We find good agreement between our temperatures and recent spectroscopic and photometric estimates. We conclude some previous interferometric measurements have been affected by systematic uncertainties larger than their quoted errors.

Using data from the GALAH pilot survey, we determine properties of the Galactic thin and thick discs near the solar neighbourhood. The data cover a small range of Galactocentric radius (7.9 less than or similar to R-GC less than or similar to 9.5 kpc), but extend up to 4 kpc in height from the Galactic plane, and several kpc in the direction of Galactic anti-rotation (at longitude 260 degrees <= l <= 280 degrees). This allows us to reliably measure the vertical density and abundance profiles of the chemically and kinematically defined 'thick' and 'thin' discs of the Galaxy. The thin disc (low-alpha population) exhibits a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient, at d[M/H]/dz = -0.18 +/- 0.01 dex kpc(-1), which is broadly consistent with previous studies. In contrast, its vertical alpha-abundance profile is almost flat, with a gradient of d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.008 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The steep vertical metallicity gradient of the low-a population is in agreement with models where radial migration has a major role in the evolution of the thin disc. The thick disc (high-alpha population) has a weaker vertical metallicity gradient d[M/H]/dz = -0.058 +/- 0.003 dex kpc(-1). The aabundance of the thick disc is nearly constant with height, d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.007 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The negative gradient in metallicity and the small gradient in [alpha/M] indicate that the high-alpha population experienced a settling phase, but also formed prior to the onset of major Type I alpha supernova enrichment. We explore the implications of the distinct alpha-enrichments and narrow [alpha/M] range of the sub-populations in the context of thick disc formation.

Using data from the GALAH pilot survey, we determine properties of the Galactic thin and thick discs near the solar neighbourhood. The data cover a small range of Galactocentric radius (7.9 less than or similar to R-GC less than or similar to 9.5 kpc), but extend up to 4 kpc in height from the Galactic plane, and several kpc in the direction of Galactic anti-rotation (at longitude 260 degrees <= l <= 280 degrees). This allows us to reliably measure the vertical density and abundance profiles of the chemically and kinematically defined 'thick' and 'thin' discs of the Galaxy. The thin disc (low-alpha population) exhibits a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient, at d[M/H]/dz = -0.18 +/- 0.01 dex kpc(-1), which is broadly consistent with previous studies. In contrast, its vertical alpha-abundance profile is almost flat, with a gradient of d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.008 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The steep vertical metallicity gradient of the low-a population is in agreement with models where radial migration has a major role in the evolution of the thin disc. The thick disc (high-alpha population) has a weaker vertical metallicity gradient d[M/H]/dz = -0.058 +/- 0.003 dex kpc(-1). The aabundance of the thick disc is nearly constant with height, d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.007 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The negative gradient in metallicity and the small gradient in [alpha/M] indicate that the high-alpha population experienced a settling phase, but also formed prior to the onset of major Type I alpha supernova enrichment. We explore the implications of the distinct alpha-enrichments and narrow [alpha/M] range of the sub-populations in the context of thick disc formation.

Using data from the GALAH pilot survey, we determine properties of the Galactic thin and thick discs near the solar neighbourhood. The data cover a small range of Galactocentric radius (7.9 less than or similar to R-GC less than or similar to 9.5 kpc), but extend up to 4 kpc in height from the Galactic plane, and several kpc in the direction of Galactic anti-rotation (at longitude 260 degrees <= l <= 280 degrees). This allows us to reliably measure the vertical density and abundance profiles of the chemically and kinematically defined 'thick' and 'thin' discs of the Galaxy. The thin disc (low-alpha population) exhibits a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient, at d[M/H]/dz = -0.18 +/- 0.01 dex kpc(-1), which is broadly consistent with previous studies. In contrast, its vertical alpha-abundance profile is almost flat, with a gradient of d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.008 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The steep vertical metallicity gradient of the low-a population is in agreement with models where radial migration has a major role in the evolution of the thin disc. The thick disc (high-alpha population) has a weaker vertical metallicity gradient d[M/H]/dz = -0.058 +/- 0.003 dex kpc(-1). The aabundance of the thick disc is nearly constant with height, d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.007 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The negative gradient in metallicity and the small gradient in [alpha/M] indicate that the high-alpha population experienced a settling phase, but also formed prior to the onset of major Type I alpha supernova enrichment. We explore the implications of the distinct alpha-enrichments and narrow [alpha/M] range of the sub-populations in the context of thick disc formation.

Using data from the GALAH pilot survey, we determine properties of the Galactic thin and thick discs near the solar neighbourhood. The data cover a small range of Galactocentric radius (7.9 less than or similar to R-GC less than or similar to 9.5 kpc), but extend up to 4 kpc in height from the Galactic plane, and several kpc in the direction of Galactic anti-rotation (at longitude 260 degrees <= l <= 280 degrees). This allows us to reliably measure the vertical density and abundance profiles of the chemically and kinematically defined 'thick' and 'thin' discs of the Galaxy. The thin disc (low-alpha population) exhibits a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient, at d[M/H]/dz = -0.18 +/- 0.01 dex kpc(-1), which is broadly consistent with previous studies. In contrast, its vertical alpha-abundance profile is almost flat, with a gradient of d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.008 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The steep vertical metallicity gradient of the low-a population is in agreement with models where radial migration has a major role in the evolution of the thin disc. The thick disc (high-alpha population) has a weaker vertical metallicity gradient d[M/H]/dz = -0.058 +/- 0.003 dex kpc(-1). The aabundance of the thick disc is nearly constant with height, d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.007 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The negative gradient in metallicity and the small gradient in [alpha/M] indicate that the high-alpha population experienced a settling phase, but also formed prior to the onset of major Type I alpha supernova enrichment. We explore the implications of the distinct alpha-enrichments and narrow [alpha/M] range of the sub-populations in the context of thick disc formation.

Using data from the GALAH pilot survey, we determine properties of the Galactic thin and thick discs near the solar neighbourhood. The data cover a small range of Galactocentric radius (7.9 less than or similar to R-GC less than or similar to 9.5 kpc), but extend up to 4 kpc in height from the Galactic plane, and several kpc in the direction of Galactic anti-rotation (at longitude 260 degrees <= l <= 280 degrees). This allows us to reliably measure the vertical density and abundance profiles of the chemically and kinematically defined 'thick' and 'thin' discs of the Galaxy. The thin disc (low-alpha population) exhibits a steep negative vertical metallicity gradient, at d[M/H]/dz = -0.18 +/- 0.01 dex kpc(-1), which is broadly consistent with previous studies. In contrast, its vertical alpha-abundance profile is almost flat, with a gradient of d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.008 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The steep vertical metallicity gradient of the low-a population is in agreement with models where radial migration has a major role in the evolution of the thin disc. The thick disc (high-alpha population) has a weaker vertical metallicity gradient d[M/H]/dz = -0.058 +/- 0.003 dex kpc(-1). The aabundance of the thick disc is nearly constant with height, d[alpha/M]/dz = 0.007 +/- 0.002 dex kpc(-1). The negative gradient in metallicity and the small gradient in [alpha/M] indicate that the high-alpha population experienced a settling phase, but also formed prior to the onset of major Type I alpha supernova enrichment. We explore the implications of the distinct alpha-enrichments and narrow [alpha/M] range of the sub-populations in the context of thick disc formation.

The Galactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey is amassive observational project to trace the MilkyWay's history of star formation, chemical enrichment, stellar migration and minor mergers. Using high-resolution (R similar or equal to 28 000) spectra, taken with the High Efficiency and Resolution Multi- Element Spectrograph (HERMES) instrument at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, GALAH will determine stellar parameters and abundances of up to 29 elements for up to one million stars. Selecting targets from a colour-unbiased catalogue built from 2MASS, APASS and UCAC4 data, we expect to observe dwarfs at 0.3-3 kpc and giants at 1-10 kpc. This enables a thorough local chemical inventory of the Galactic thin and thick discs, and also captures smaller samples of the bulge and halo. In this paper, we present the plan, process and progress as of early 2016 for GALAH survey observations. In our first two years of survey observing we have accumulated the largest high-quality spectroscopic data set at this resolution, over 200 000 stars. We also present the first public GALAH data catalogue: stellar parameters (T-eff, log(g), [ Fe/ H], [ alpha/ Fe]), radial velocity, distance modulus and reddening for 10 680 observations of 9860 Tycho-2 stars, 7894 of which are included in the first Gaia data release.

Our ability to model the shapes and strengths of iron lines in the solar spectrum is a critical test of the accuracy of the solar iron abundance, which sets the absolute zero-point of all stellar metallicities. We use an extensive 463-level Fe atom with new photoionization cross-sections for Fe I and quantum mechanical calculations of collisional excitation and charge transfer with neutral hydrogen; the latter effectively remove a free parameter that has hampered all previous line formation studies of Fe in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE). For the first time, we use realistic 3D NLTE calculations of Fe for a quantitative comparison to solar observations. We confront our theoretical line profiles with observations taken at different viewing angles across the solar disc with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. We find that 3D modelling well reproduces the observed centre-to-limb behaviour of spectral lines overall, but highlight aspects that may require further work, especially cross-sections for inelastic collisions with electrons. Our inferred solar iron abundance is log(epsilon(Fe)) = 7.48 +/- 0.04 dex.

Our ability to model the shapes and strengths of iron lines in the solar spectrum is a critical test of the accuracy of the solar iron abundance, which sets the absolute zero-point of all stellar metallicities. We use an extensive 463-level Fe atom with new photoionization cross-sections for Fe I and quantum mechanical calculations of collisional excitation and charge transfer with neutral hydrogen; the latter effectively remove a free parameter that has hampered all previous line formation studies of Fe in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE). For the first time, we use realistic 3D NLTE calculations of Fe for a quantitative comparison to solar observations. We confront our theoretical line profiles with observations taken at different viewing angles across the solar disc with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. We find that 3D modelling well reproduces the observed centre-to-limb behaviour of spectral lines overall, but highlight aspects that may require further work, especially cross-sections for inelastic collisions with electrons. Our inferred solar iron abundance is log(epsilon(Fe)) = 7.48 +/- 0.04 dex.

Our ability to model the shapes and strengths of iron lines in the solar spectrum is a critical test of the accuracy of the solar iron abundance, which sets the absolute zero-point of all stellar metallicities. We use an extensive 463-level Fe atom with new photoionization cross-sections for Fe I and quantum mechanical calculations of collisional excitation and charge transfer with neutral hydrogen; the latter effectively remove a free parameter that has hampered all previous line formation studies of Fe in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE). For the first time, we use realistic 3D NLTE calculations of Fe for a quantitative comparison to solar observations. We confront our theoretical line profiles with observations taken at different viewing angles across the solar disc with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. We find that 3D modelling well reproduces the observed centre-to-limb behaviour of spectral lines overall, but highlight aspects that may require further work, especially cross-sections for inelastic collisions with electrons. Our inferred solar iron abundance is log(epsilon(Fe)) = 7.48 +/- 0.04 dex.

Our ability to model the shapes and strengths of iron lines in the solar spectrum is a critical test of the accuracy of the solar iron abundance, which sets the absolute zero-point of all stellar metallicities. We use an extensive 463-level Fe atom with new photoionization cross-sections for Fe I and quantum mechanical calculations of collisional excitation and charge transfer with neutral hydrogen; the latter effectively remove a free parameter that has hampered all previous line formation studies of Fe in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE). For the first time, we use realistic 3D NLTE calculations of Fe for a quantitative comparison to solar observations. We confront our theoretical line profiles with observations taken at different viewing angles across the solar disc with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. We find that 3D modelling well reproduces the observed centre-to-limb behaviour of spectral lines overall, but highlight aspects that may require further work, especially cross-sections for inelastic collisions with electrons. Our inferred solar iron abundance is log(epsilon(Fe)) = 7.48 +/- 0.04 dex.

Our ability to model the shapes and strengths of iron lines in the solar spectrum is a critical test of the accuracy of the solar iron abundance, which sets the absolute zero-point of all stellar metallicities. We use an extensive 463-level Fe atom with new photoionization cross-sections for Fe I and quantum mechanical calculations of collisional excitation and charge transfer with neutral hydrogen; the latter effectively remove a free parameter that has hampered all previous line formation studies of Fe in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE). For the first time, we use realistic 3D NLTE calculations of Fe for a quantitative comparison to solar observations. We confront our theoretical line profiles with observations taken at different viewing angles across the solar disc with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. We find that 3D modelling well reproduces the observed centre-to-limb behaviour of spectral lines overall, but highlight aspects that may require further work, especially cross-sections for inelastic collisions with electrons. Our inferred solar iron abundance is log(epsilon(Fe)) = 7.48 +/- 0.04 dex.