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A large C+N+O abundance spread in giant stars of the globular cluster NGC 1851
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Abundances of C, N, and O are determined in four bright red giants that span the known abundance range for light (Na and Al) and s-process (Zr and La) elements in the globular cluster NGC 1851. The abundance sum C+N+O exhibits a range of 0.6 dex, a factor of 4, in contrast to other clusters in which no significant C+N+O spread is found. Such an abundance range offers support for the Cassisi et al. (2008) scenario in which the double subgiant branch populations are coeval but with different mixtures of C+N+O abundances. Further, the Na, Al, Zr, and La abundances are correlated with C+N+O, and therefore, NGC 1851 is the first cluster to provide strong support for the scenario in which AGB stars are responsible for the globular cluster light element abundance variations.<br />Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters
- Subjects :
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics - Galaxy Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.0902.1773
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/695/1/L62