arXiv subjects

A. Mucciarelli

Publications and source records attributed to A. Mucciarelli.

162 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Blood ties: the real nature of the LMC binary globular clusters NGC 2136 and NGC 2137

We have used a sample of high-resolution spectra obtained with the multi-fiber facility FLAMES at the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory, to derive the kinematical and chemical properties of the two young Large Magellanic Cloud globular clusters NGC 2136 and NGC 2137. These two clusters represent a typical example of LMC cluster pair suspected to be bound in a binary system: indeed the cluster centers of gravity have an angular separation of less than 1.4 arcmin in the sky. The spectral analysis of seven giants in NGC 2136 and four in NGC 2137 reveals that the two clusters share very similar systemic radial velocities, namely Vrad=271.5\pm0.4 km/s (sigma=1.0 km/s) and Vrad=270.6\pm0.5 km/s (sigma=0.9 km/s) for NGC 2136 and NGC 2137, respectively, and they have also indistinguishable abundance patterns. The iron content is [Fe/H]=-0.40\pm0.01 dex (sigma=0.03 dex) for NGC 2136 and -0.39\pm0.01 dex (sigma=0.01 dex) for NGC 2137, while the [alpha/Fe] ratios are roughly solar in both clusters. These findings suggest that the two clusters are gravitationally bound and that they formed from the fragmentation of the same molecular cloud that was chemically homogeneous. This is the first firm confirmation of the binary nature of a LMC cluster pair. The most likely fate of this system is to merge into a single structure in a time-scale comparable with its orbital period.

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arXiv2012

CORS Baade-Wesselink distance to the LMC NGC 1866 blue populous cluster

We used Optical, Near Infrared photometry and radial velocity data for a sample of 11 Cepheids belonging to the young LMC blue populous cluster NGC 1866 to estimate their radii and distances on the basis of the CORS Baade-Wesselink method. This technique, based on an accurate calibration of the surface brightness as a function of (U-B), (V-K) colors, allows us to estimate, simultaneously, the linear radius and the angular diameter of Cepheid variables, and consequently to derive their distance. A rigorous error estimate on radius and distances was derived by using Monte Carlo simulations. Our analysis gives a distance modulus for NGC 1866 of 18.51+/-0.03 mag, which is in agreement with several independent results.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Giants reveal what dwarfs conceal: Li abundance in lower RGB stars as diagnostic of the primordial Li

The discrepancy between cosmological Li abundance inferred from Population II dwarf stars and that derived from WMAP/BBNS is still far from being solved.We investigated, as an alternative route, the use of Li abundances in Population II lower RGB stars as empirical diagnostic of the cosmological Li. Both theory and observations suggest that the surface A(Li) in red giants after the completion of the first dredge-up and before the RGB bump, are significantly less sensitive to the efficiency of atomic diffusion, compared with dwarf stars. Standard stellar models computed under different physical assumptions show that the inclusion of the atomic diffusion has an impact of 0.07dex in the determination of A(Li)0 (much smaller than the case of MS stars) and it is basically unaffected by reasonable variations of other parameters (overshooting, age,initial Y, mixing length). We have determined the surface Li content of 17 Halo lower RGB stars,in the metallicity range [Fe/H]=-3.4 /-1.4 dex. The initial Li has then been inferred by accounting for the difference between initial and post-dredge up A(Li) in the appropriate stellar models. It depends mainly on the used T(eff) scale and is only weakly sensitive to the efficiency of atomic diffusion,so long as one neglects Li destruction caused by the process competing with atomic diffusion. Final A(Li)0 span a relatively narrow range (2.28 /2.46 dex), and is 0.3-0.4 dex lower the WMAP/BBNS predictions. These values of A(Li)0 are corroborated by the analysis of the GCs NGC6397, NGC6752 and M4. Our result provides an independent quantitative estimate of the difference with the Big Bang value and sets a very robust constraint for the physical processes invoked to resolve this discrepancy.

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arXiv2011

The subgiant branch of omega Cen seen through high-resolution spectroscopy. II. The most metal-rich population

We analyze spectra of 18 stars belonging to the faintest subgiant branch in omega Centauri (the SGB-a), obtained with GIRAFFE@VLT at a resolution o R~17000 and a S/N ratio between 25 and 50. We measure abundances of Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, Ni, Si, and Ti and we find that these stars have <[Fe/H]>=-0.73 +/- 0.14 dex, similarly to the corresponding red giant branch population (the RGB-a). We also measure <[alpha/Fe]>=+0.40 +/- 0.16 dex, and <[Ba/Fe]>=+0.87 +/- 0.23 dex, in general agreement with past studies. It is very interesting to note that we found a uniform Al abundance, <[Al/Fe]>=+0.32 +/- 0.14 dex, for all the 18 SGB-a stars analysed here, thus supporting past evidence that the usual (anti-)correlations are not present in this population, and suggesting a non globular cluster-like origin of this particular population. In the dwarf galaxy hypothesis for the formation of omega Cen, this population might be the best candidate for the field population of its putative parent galaxy, although some of its properties appear contradictory. It has also been suggested that the most metal-rich population in omega Cen is significantly enriched in helium. If this is true, the traditional abundance analysis techniques, based on model atmospheres with normal helium content, might lead to errors. We have computed helium enhanced atmospheres for three stars in our sample and verified that the abundance errors due to the use of non-enhanced atmospheres are negligible. Additional, indirect support to the enhanced helium content of the SGB-a population comes from our Li upper limits.

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arXiv2011

A low surface brightness halo surrounding the globular cluster NGC 5694

We report on the discovery of an extended stellar halo surrounding the distant Galactic globular cluster NGC 5694, based on new deep (V ~ 24.5) wide-field (24' * 20') photometry acquired with VIMOS at VLT. Stars with colour and magnitude consistent with the Main Sequence of the cluster are clearly identified out to r ~ 9'(~ 93 pc) from the cluster center, much beyond the tidal radius of the King model that best fits the inner profile (r_t=3.15'). We do not find a clear end of the structure within our field. The overall observed profile cannot be properly fitted with either a King (1966) model, an Elson et al. (1987) model, or a Wilson (1975) model; however it is very smooth and does not show any sign of the break near the tidal radius that is typically observed in stellar systems with tidal tails. The density map we derived does not show evidence of tidal tails, within the considered field. The extra-tidal component contains ~ 3.5% of the cluster light (mass) and has a surface density profile falling as ~ r^{-3.2}. The possible origin of the detected structure is discussed, as a clear-cut conclusion cannot be reached with the available data.

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arXiv2010

The subgiant branch of omega Cen seen through high-resolution spectroscopy. I. The first stellar generation in omega Centauri?

We analysed high-resolution UVES spectra of six stars belonging to the subgiant branch of omega Centauri, and derived abundance ratios of 19 chemical elements (namely Al, Ba, C, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, La, Mg, Mn, N, Na, Ni, Sc, Si, Sr, Ti, and Y). A comparison with previous abundance determinations for red giants provided remarkable agreement and allowed us to identify the sub-populations to which our targets belong. We found that three targets belong to a low-metallicity population at [Fe/H]~-2.0 dex, [alpha/Fe]~+0.4 dex and [s/Fe]~0 dex. Stars with similar characteristics were found in small amounts by past surveys of red giants. We discuss the possibility that they belong to a separate sub-population that we name VMP (very metal-poor, at most 5% of the total cluster population), which - in the self-enrichment hypothesis - is the best-candidate first stellar generation in omega Cen. Two of the remaining targets belong to the dominant metal-poor population (MP) at [Fe/H]~-1.7 dex, and the last one to the metal-intermediate (MInt) one at [Fe/H]~-1.2 dex. The existence of the newly defined VMP population could help to understand some puzzling results based on low-resolution spectroscopy (Sollima et al., Villanova et al.) in their age differences determinations, because the metallicity resolution of these studies was probably not enough to detect the VMP population. The VMP could also correspond to some of the additional substructures of the subgiant-branch region found in the latest HST photometry (Bellini et al.). After trying to correlate chemical abundances with substructures in the subgiant branch of omega Cen, we found that the age difference between the VMP and MP populations should be small (0+/-2 Gyr), while the difference between the MP and MInt populations could be slightly larger (2+/-2~Gyr).

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arXiv2010

Spectroscopy Unveils the Complex Nature of Terzan 5

We present the chemical abundance analysis of 33 red giant stars belonging to the complex stellar system Terzan 5. We confirm the discovery of two stellar populations (Ferraro et al. 2009, Nature, 462,483) with distinct iron abundances: a relatively metal-poor component with [Fe/H]=-0.25 +/- 0.07 r.m.s., and another component with [Fe/H]=+0.27 +/- 0.04 r.m.s., exceeding in metallicity any known Galactic globular cluster. The two populations also show different [alpha/Fe] abundance ratios. The metal-poor component has an average [alpha/Fe]=+0.34 +/- 0.06 r.m.s., consistent with the canonical scenario for rapid enrichment by core collapse supernovae (SNe). The metal-rich component has [alpha/Fe]=+0.03 +/-i 0.04 r.m.s., suggesting that the gas from which it formed was polluted by both type II and type Ia SNe on a longer timescale. Neither of the two populations shows evidence of the [Al/Fe] over [O/Fe] anti-correlation, that is typically observed in Galactic globular clusters. Because these chemical abundance patterns are unique, we propose that Terzan 5 is not a true globular cluster, but a stellar system with a much more complex history of star formation and chemical enrichment.

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arXiv2010

NGC 1866: a milestone for understanding the chemical evolution of stellar populations in the LMC

We present new FLAMES@VLT spectroscopic observations of 30 stars in the field of the LMC stellar cluster NGC 1866. NGC 1866 is one of the few young and massive globular cluster that is close enough so that its stars can be individually studied in detail. Radial velocities have been used to separate stars belonging to the cluster and to the LMC field and the same spectra have been used to derive chemical abundances for a variety of elements, from [Fe/H] to the light (i.e. Na, O, Mg...) to the heavy ones. The average iron abundance of NGC 1866 turns out to be [Fe/H]= -0.43+-0.01 dex (with a dispersion of 0.04 dex), from the analysis of 14 cluster-member stars. Within our uncertainties, the cluster stars are homogeneous, as far as chemical composition is concerned, independent of the evolutionary status. The observed cluster stars do not show any sign of the light elements 'anti-correlation' present in all the Galactic globular clusters so far studied, and also found in the old LMC stellar clusters. A similar lack of anti-correlations has been detected in the massive intermediate-age LMC clusters, indicating a different formation/evolution scenario for the LMC massive clusters younger than ~3 Gyr with respect to the old ones. Also opposite to the Galactic globulars, the chemical composition of the older RGB field stars and of the young post-MS cluster stars show robust homogeneity suggesting a quite similar process of chemical evolution. The field and cluster abundances are in agreement with recent chemical analysis of LMC stars, which show a distinctive chemical pattern for this galaxy with respect to the Milky Way. We discuss these findings in light of the theoretical scenario of chemical evolution of the LMC.

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arXiv2010

Lithium abundance in the globular cluster M4: from the Turn-Off to the RGB Bump

We present Li and Fe abundances for 87 stars in the GC M4,obtained with GIRAFFE high-resolution spectra. The targets range from the TO up to the RGB Bump. The Li abundance in the TO stars is uniform, with an average value A(Li)=2.30+-0.02 dex,consistent with the upper envelope of Li content measured in other GCs and in the Halo stars,confirming also for M4 the discrepancy with the primordial Li abundance predicted by WMAP+BBNS. The iron content of M4 is [Fe/H]=-1.10+-0.01 dex, with no systematic offsets between dwarf and giant stars.The behaviour of the Li and Fe abundance along the entire evolutionary path is incompatible with models with atomic diffusion, pointing out that an additional turbulent mixing below the convective region needs to be taken into account,able to inhibit the atomic diffusion.The measured A(Li) and its homogeneity in the TO stars allow to put strong constraints on the shape of the Li profile inside the M4 TO stars. The global behaviour of A(Li) with T_{eff} can be reproduced with different pristine Li abundances, depending on the kind of adopted turbulent mixing.One cannot reproduce the global trend starting from the WMAP+BBNS A(Li) and adopting the turbulent mixing described by Richard et al.(2005) with the same efficiency used by Korn et al.(2006) to explain the Li content in NGC6397. Such a solution is not able to well reproduce simultaneously the Li abundance observed in TO and RGB stars.Otherwise, theWMAP+BBNS A(Li) can be reproduced assuming a more efficient turbulent mixing able to reach deeper stellar regions where the Li is burned. The cosmological Li discrepancy cannot be easily solved with the present,poor understanding of the turbulence in the stellar interiors and a future effort to well understand the true nature of this non-canonical process is needed.

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arXiv2010

Fast rotating Blue Stragglers in the globular cluster M4

We have used high resolution spectra obtained with the spectrograph FLAMES at the ESO Very Large Telescope to determine the kinematical properties and the abundance patterns of 20 blue straggler stars (BSSs) in the globular cluster M4. We found that ~ 40% of the measured BSSs are fast rotators (with rotational velocities > 50 km/s). This is the largest frequency of rapidly rotating BSSs ever detected in a globular cluster. In addition, at odds with what has been found in 47 Tucanae, no evidence of carbon and/or oxygen depletion has been revealed in the sample of 11 BSSs for which we were able to measure the abundances. This could be due either to low statistics, or to a different BSS formation process acting in M4.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

New density profile and structural parameters of the complex stellar system Terzan 5

Terzan 5 is a globular cluster-like stellar system in the Galactic Bulge which has been recently found to harbor two stellar populations with different iron content and probably different ages (Ferraro et al. 2009). This discovery suggests that Terzan 5 may be the relic of a primordial building block which contributed to the formation of the Galactic Bulge. Here we present a re-determination of the structural parameters (center of gravity, density and surface brightness profiles, total luminosity and mass) of Terzan 5, as obtained from the combination of high-resolution (ESO-MAD and HST ACS-WFC) and wide-field (ESO-WFI) observations. We find that Terzan 5 is significantly less concentrated and more massive than previously thought. Still it has the largest collision rate of any stellar aggregate in the Galaxy. We discuss the impact of these findings on the exceptional population of millisecond pulsars harbored in this stellar system.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

Chemical composition of the old globular clusters NGC 1786, NGC 2210 and NGC 2257 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

This paper presents the chemical abundance analysis of a sample of 18 giant stars in 3 old globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, namely NGC 1786, NGC 2210 and NGC 2257. The derived iron content is [Fe/H]= --1.75+-0.01 dex (sigma= 0.02 dex), --1.65+-0.02 dex (sigma= 0.04 dex) and --1.95+-0.02 dex (sigma= 0.04 dex) for NGC 1786, NGC 2210 and NGC 2257, respectively. All the clusters exhibit similar abundance ratios, with enhanced values (+0.30 dex) of [alpha/Fe], consistent with the Galactic Halo stars, thus indicating that these clusters have formed from a gas enriched by Type II SNe. We also found evidence that r-process are the main channel of production of the measured neutron capture elements (Y, Ba, La, Nd, Ce and Eu). In particular the quite large enhancement of [Eu/Fe] (+0.70 dex) found in these old clusters clearly indicates a relevant efficiency of the r-process mechanism in the LMC environment.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

The cluster Terzan 5 as a remnant of a primordial building block of the Galactic bulge

Globular star clusters are compact and massive stellar systems old enough to have witnessed the entire history of our Galaxy, the Milky Way. Although recent results suggest that their formation may have been more complex than previously thought, they still are the best approximation to a stellar population formed over a relatively short time scale (less than 1 Gyr) and with virtually no dispersion in the iron content. Indeed, only one cluster-like system (omega Centauri) in the Galactic halo is known to have multiple stellar populations with a significant spread in iron abundance and age4,5. Similar findings in the Galactic bulge have been hampered by the obscuration arising from thick and varying layers of interstellar dust. Here we report that Terzan 5, a globular-cluster-like system in the Galactic bulge, has two stellar populations with different iron content and ages. Terzan 5 could be the surviving remnant of one of the primordial building blocks that are thought to merge and form galaxy bulges.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2009

Looking outside the Galaxy: the discovery of chemical anomalies in 3 old Large Magellanic Cloud clusters

By using the multifiber spectrograph FLAMES mounted at the ESO-VLT, we have obtained high-resolution spectra for 18 giant stars, belonging to 3 old globular clusters of the Large Magellanic Cloud (namely NGC 1786, 2210 and 2257). While stars in each cluster showed quite homogeneous iron content, within a few cents of dex (the mean values being Fe/H]= -1.75+-0.01 dex, -1.65+-0.02 dex and -1.95+-0.02 dex for NGC 1786, 2210 and 2257, respectively), we have detected significant inhomogeneities for the [Na/Fe], [Al/Fe], [O/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] abundance ratios, with evidence of [O/Fe] vs [Na/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] vs [Al/Fe] anticorrelations. The trends detected nicely agree with those observed in Galactic Globular Clusters, suggesting that such abundance anomalies are ubiquitous features of old stellar systems and they do not depend on the parent galaxy environment. In NGC 1786 we also detected two extreme O-poor, Na-rich stars. This is the first time that a firm signature of extreme chemical abundance anomalies has been found in an extragalactic stellar cluster.

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arXiv2008

The chemical composition of red giant stars in four intermediate-age clusters of the Large Magellanic Cloud

This paper presents the chemical abundance analysis of a sample of 27 red giant stars located in 4 popolous intermediate-age globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, namely NGC 1651, 1783, 1978 and 2173. This analysis is based on high-resolution (R ~ 47000) spectra obtained with the UVES@VLT spectrograph. For each cluster we derived up to 20 abundance ratios sampling the main chemical elemental groups, namely light odd-Z, alpha, iron-peak and neutron-capture elements. All the analysed abundance patterns behave similarly in the 4 clusters and also show negligible star-to-star scatter within each cluster. We find [Fe/H]=-0.30+-0.03, -0.35+-0.02, -0.38+-0.02 and -0.51+-0.03 dex for NGC 1651, 1783, 1978 and 2173, respectively. The measurement of light odd-Z nuclei gives slightly subsolar [Na/Fe] and a more significant [Al/Fe] depletion (~ -0.50 dex). The [alpha / Fe] abundance ratios are nearly solar, while the iron-peak elements well trace that one of the iron. s-process elements behave in a peculiar way: light s-elements give subsolar [Y/Fe] and [Zr/Fe] abundance ratios, while heavy s-elements give enhanced [Ba/Fe], [La/Fe] and [Nd/Fe] with respect to the solar values. Also, the [Eu/Fe] abundance ratio turns out to be enhanced (~ 0.4 dex).

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arXiv2008

The solar photospheric abundance of europium. Results from CO5BOLD 3-D hydrodynamical model atmospheres

Context. Europium is an almost pure r-process element, which may be useful as a reference in nucleocosmochronology. Aims. To determine the photospheric solar abundance using CO5BOLD 3-D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. Methods. Disc-centre and integrated-flux observed solar spectra are used. The europium abundance is derived from the equivalent width measurements. As a reference 1D model atmospheres have been used, in addition. Results. The europium photospheric solar abundance is 0.52 +- 0.02 in agreement with previous determinations. We also determine the photospheric isotopic fraction of Eu(151) to be 49 % +- 2.3 % from the intensity spectra and 50% +-2.3 from the flux spectra. This compares well to the the meteoritic isotopic fraction 47.8%. We explore the 3D corrections also for dwarfs and sub-giants in the temperature range ~5000 K to ~6500 K and solar and 1/10--solar metallicities and find them to be negligible for all the models investigated. Conclusions. Our photospheric Eu abundance is in good agreement with previous determinations based on 1D models. This is in line with our conclusion that 3D effects for this element are negligible in the case of the Sun.

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arXiv2007

The intermediate-age globular cluster NGC 1783 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present Hubble Space Telescope ACS deep photometry of the intermediate-age globular cluster NGC 1783 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. By using this photometric dataset, we have determined the degree of ellipticity of the cluster ($ε$=0.14$\pm$0.03) and the radial density profile. This profile is well reproduced by a standard King model with an extended core (r_c=24.5'') and a low concentration (c=1.16), indicating that the cluster has not experienced the collapse of the core. We also derived the cluster age, by using the Pisa Evolutionary Library (PEL) isochrones, with three different amount of overshooting (namely, $Λ_{os}$=0.0, 0.10 and 0.25). From the comparison of the observed Color-Magnitude Diagram (CMD) and Main Sequence (MS) Luminosity Function (LF) with the theoretical isochrones and LFs, we find that only models with the inclusion of some overshooting ($Λ_{os}$=0.10-0.25) are able to reproduce the observables. By using the magnitude difference $δV_{SGB}^{He-Cl}=0.90$ between the mean level of the He-clump and the flat region of the SGB, we derive an age $τ$=1.4$\pm$0.2 Gyr.

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arXiv2006

Red Giant stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud clusters

We present deep J,H,Ks photometry and accurate Color Magnitude Diagrams down to K ~18.5, for a sample of 13 globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This data set combined with the previous sample of 6 clusters published by our group gives the opportunity to study the properties of giant stars in clusters with different ages (ranging from ~80 Myr up to ~3.5 Gyr). Quantitative estimates of star population ratios (by number and luminosity) in the Asymptotic Giant Branch, the Red Giant Branch and the He-clump, have been obtained and compared with theoretical models in the framework of probing the so-called phase transitions. The AGB contribution to the total luminosity starts to be significant at ~200 Myr and reaches its maximum at ~5-600 Myr, when the RGB Phase Transition is starting. At ~900 Myr the full developing of an extended and well populated RGB has been completed. Both the occurrence of the AGB and RGB Phase Transitions are sharp events, lasting a few hundreds Myr only. These empirical results agree very well with the theoretical predictions of simple stellar population models based on canonical tracks and the fuel-consumption approach.

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