arXiv subjects

Catherine A. Pilachowski

Publications and source records attributed to Catherine A. Pilachowski.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

NGC 7789: An Open Cluster Case Study

We have obtained high-resolution spectra of 32 giants in the open cluster NGC 7789 using the Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO Hydra spectrograph. We explore differences in atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances caused by the use of the linelist developed for the Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) compared to one based on Arcturus used in our previous work. [Fe/H] values decrease when using the GES linelist instead of the Arcturus-based linelist; these differences are probably driven by systematically lower (~ -0.1 dex) GES surface gravities. Using the GES linelist we determine abundances for 10 elements - Fe, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Na, Ni, Zr, Ba, and La. We find the cluster's average metallicity [Fe/H] = 0.03 +/- 0.07 dex, in good agreement with literature values, and a lower [Mg/Fe] abundance than has been reported before for this cluster (0.11 +/- 0.05 dex). We also find the neutron-capture element barium to be highly enhanced - [Ba/Fe] = +0.48 +/- 0.08 - and disparate from cluster measurements of neutron-capture elements La and Zr (-0.08 +/- 0.05 and 0.08 +/- 0.08, respectively). This is in accordance with recent discoveries of supersolar Ba enhancement in young clusters along with more modest enhancement of other neutron-capture elements formed in similar environments.

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arXiv2015

Light-Element Abundances of Giant Stars in the Globular Cluster M71 (NGC 6838)

Aluminum is the heaviest light element displaying large star--to--star variations in Galactic globular clusters (GCs). This element may provide additional insight into the origin of the multiple populations now known to be a common place in GCs, and also the nature of the first-generation stars responsible for a cluster's chemical inhomogeneities. In a previous analysis we found that, unlike more metal-poor GCs, 47 Tuc did not exhibit a strong Na-Al correlation, which motivates a careful study of the similar metallicity but less massive GC M71. We present chemical abundances of O, Na, Al, and Fe for 33 giants in M71 using spectra obtained with the WIYN-Hydra spectrograph. Our spectroscopic analysis finds that, similar to 47 Tuc and in contrast with more metal-poor GCs, M71 stars do not exhibit a strong Na-Al correlation and span a relatively narrow range in [Al/Fe], which are characteristics that GC formation models must reproduce.

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arXiv2014

AGB Sodium Abundances in the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104)

A recent analysis comparing the [Na/Fe] distributions of red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6752 found that the ratio of Na-poor to Na-rich stars changes from 30:70 on the RGB to 100:0 on the AGB. The surprising paucity of Na-rich stars on the AGB in NGC 6752 warrants additional investigations to determine if the failure of a significant fraction of stars to ascend the AGB is an attribute common to all globular clusters. Therefore, we present radial velocities, [Fe/H], and [Na/Fe] abundances for 35 AGB stars in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae (47 Tuc; NGC 104), and compare the AGB [Na/Fe] distribution with a similar RGB sample published previously. The abundances and velocities were derived from high resolution spectra obtained with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) and MSpec spectrograph on the Magellan-Clay 6.5m telescope. We find the average heliocentric radial velocity and [Fe/H] values to be =-18.56 km s^-1 (sigma=10.21 km s^-1) and <[Fe/H]>=-0.68 (sigma=0.08), respectively, in agreement with previous literature estimates. The average [Na/Fe] abundance is 0.12 dex lower in the 47 Tuc AGB sample compared to the RGB sample, and the ratio of Na-poor to Na-rich stars is 63:37 on the AGB and 45:55 on the RGB. However, in contrast to NGC 6752, the two 47 Tuc populations have nearly identical [Na/Fe] dispersion and interquartile range values. The data presented here suggest that only a small fraction <20% of Na-rich stars in 47 Tuc may fail to ascend the AGB. Regardless of the cause for the lower average [Na/Fe] abundance in AGB stars, we find that Na-poor stars and at least some Na-rich stars in 47 Tuc evolve through the early AGB phase. [abridged]

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arXiv2013

Detailed Abundances for a Large Sample of Giant Stars in the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104)

47 Tuc is an ideal target to study chemical evolution and GC formation in massive more metal-rich GCs since is the closest, massive GC. We present chemical abundances for O, Na, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe, Ni, La, and Eu in 164 red giant branch (RGB) stars in the massive globular cluster 47 Tuc using spectra obtained with both the Hydra multi-fiber spectrograph at the Blanco 4-m telescope and the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. We find an average [Fe/H]=--0.79$\pm$0.09 dex, consistent with literature values, as well as over-abundances of alpha-elements ($[α/\mbox{Fe}]\sim0.3$ dex). The n-capture process elements indicate that 47 Tuc is r-process dominated ([Eu/La]=+0.24), and the light elements O, Na, and Al exhibit star-to-star variations. The Na-O anti-correlation, a signature typically seen in Galactic globular clusters, is present in 47 Tuc, and extends to include a small number of stars with [O/Fe] $\sim$\,--0.5. Additionally, the [O/Na] ratios of our sample reveal that the cluster stars can be separated into three distinct populations. A KS-test demonstrates that the O-poor/Na-rich stars are more centrally concentrated than the O-rich/Na-poor stars. The observed number and radial distribution of 47 Tuc's stellar populations, as distinguished by their light element composition, agrees closely with the results obtained from photometric data. We do not find evidence supporting a strong Na-Al correlation in 47 Tuc, which is consistent with current models of AGB nucleosynthesis yields.

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arXiv2013

Metallicity Distribution Functions, Radial Velocities, and Alpha Element Abundances in Three Off-Axis Bulge Fields

We present radial velocities and chemical abundance ratios of [Fe/H], [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ca/Fe] for 264 red giant branch (RGB) stars in three Galactic bulge off-axis fields located near (l,b)=(-5.5,-7), (-4,-9), and (+8.5,+9). The results are based on equivalent width and spectrum synthesis analyses of moderate resolution (R~18,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N~75-300) spectra obtained with the Hydra spectrographs on the Blanco 4m and WIYN 3.5m telescopes. The targets were selected from the blue side of the giant branch to avoid cool stars that would be strongly affected by CN and TiO; however, a comparison of the color-metallicity distribution in literature samples suggests our selection of bluer targets should not present a significant bias against metal-rich stars. We find a full range in metallicity that spans [Fe/H]\approx-1.5 to +0.5, and that, in accordance with the previously observed minor-axis vertical metallicity gradient, the median [Fe/H] also declines with increasing Galactic latitude in off-axis fields. The off-axis vertical [Fe/H] gradient in the southern bulge is estimated to be ~0.4 dex/kpc. The (+8.5,+9) field exhibits a higher than expected metallicity, with a median [Fe/H]=-0.23, that might be related to a stronger presence of the X--shaped bulge structure along that line-of-sight. All fields exhibit an identical, strong decrease in velocity dispersion with increasing metallicity that is consistent with observations in similar minor-axis outer bulge fields. Additionally, the [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ca/Fe] versus [Fe/H] trends are identical among our three fields, and are in good agreement with past bulge studies. [abridged]

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arXiv2012

Oxygen and Sodium Abundances in M13 (NGC 6205) Giants: Linking Globular Cluster Formation Scenarios, Deep Mixing, and Post-RGB Evolution

We present O, Na, and Fe abundances, as well as radial velocities, for 113 red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the globular cluster M13. The abundances and velocities are based on spectra obtained with the WIYN-Hydra spectrograph, and the observations range in luminosity from the horizontal branch (HB) to RGB-tip. The results are examined in the context of recent globular cluster formation scenarios. We find that M13 exhibits many key characteristics that suggest its formation and chemical enrichment are well-described by current models. Some of these observations include: the central concentration of O-poor stars, the notable decrease in [O/Fe] (but small increase in [Na/Fe]) with increasing luminosity that affects primarily the "extreme" population, the small fraction of stars with halo-like composition, and the paucity of O-poor AGB stars. In agreement with recent work, we conclude that the most O-poor M13 giants are likely He-enriched and that most (all?) O-poor RGB stars evolve to become extreme HB and AGB-manqué stars. In contrast, the "primordial" and "intermediate" population stars appear to experience standard HB and AGB evolution.

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arXiv2011

Chemical Abundances of Red Giant Stars in the Globular Cluster M107 (NGC 6171)

We present chemical abundances of Al and several Fe-Peak and neutron-capture elements for 13 red giant branch stars in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6171 (M107). The abundances were determined using equivalent width and spectrum synthesis analyses of moderate resolution (R~15,000), moderate signal-to-noise ratio ( ~80) spectra obtained with the WIYN telescope and Hydra multifiber spectrograph. A comparison between photometric and spectroscopic effective temperature estimates seems to indicate a reddening value of E(B-V)=0.46 may be more appropriate for this cluster than the more commonly used value of E(B-V)=0.33. Similarly, we found that a distance modulus of (m-M)V~13.7 provided reasonable surface gravity estimates for the stars in our sample. Our spectroscopic analysis finds M107 to be moderately metal-poor with <[Fe/H]>= -0.93 and also exhibits a small star-to-star metallicity dispersion (sigma=0.04). These results are consistent with previous photometric and spectroscopic studies. Aluminum appears to be moderately enhanced in all program stars (<[Al/Fe]>=+0.39, sigma=0.11). The relatively small star-to-star scatter in [Al/Fe] differs from the trend found in more metal-poor globular clusters, and is more similar to what is found in clusters with [Fe/H] greater than about -1. The cluster also appears to be moderately r-process enriched with <[Eu/La]>=+0.32 (sigma=0.17).

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arXiv2011

Multiple populations in Omega Centauri: a cluster analysis of spectroscopic data

Omega Cen is composed of several stellar populations. Their history might allow us to reconstruct the evolution of this complex object. We performed a statistical cluster analysis on the large data set provided by Johnson and Pilachowski (2010). Stars in Omega Cen divide into three main groups. The metal-poor group includes about a third of the total. It shows a moderate O-Na anticorrelation, and similarly to other clusters, the O-poor second generation stars are more centrally concentrated than the O-rich first generation ones. This whole population is La-poor, with a pattern of abundances for n-capture elements which is very close to a scaled r-process one. The metal-intermediate group includes the majority of the cluster stars. This is a much more complex population, with an internal spread in the abundances of most elements. It shows an extreme O-Na anticorrelation, with a very numerous population of extremely O-poor and He-rich second generation stars. This second generation is very centrally concentrated. This whole population is La-rich, with a pattern of the abundances of n-capture elements that shows a strong contribution by the s-process. The spread in metallicity within this metal-intermediate population is not very large, and we might attribute it either to non uniformities of an originally very extended star forming region, or to some ability to retain a fraction of the ejecta of the core collapse SNe that exploded first, or both. As previously noticed, the metal-rich group has an Na-O correlation, rather than anticorrelation. There is evidence for the contribution of both massive stars ending their life as core-collapse SNe, and intermediate/low mass stars, producing the s-capture elements. Kinematics of this population suggests that it formed within the cluster rather than being accreted.

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arXiv2010

Metallicities of Young Open Clusters I: NGC 7160 and NGC 2232

We present a moderate-resolution spectroscopic analysis of the 10-25 Myr clusters NGC 7160 and NGC 2232, using observations obtained with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope. Both NGC 7160 and NGC 2232 are found to have super-solar metallicities, with a mean [Fe/H] = 0.16 \pm 0.03 (s.e.m.) for NGC 7160, and 0.22 \pm 0.09 (s.e.m.) or 0.32 \pm 0.08 for NGC 2232, depending on the adopted temperature scale. NGC 7160 exhibits solar distributions of Na, Fe-peak, and α-elements. NGC 2232 is underabundant in light elements Al and Si, by ~0.25 and ~ 0.15 dex, respectively; [Ni/Fe] is roughly solar. The abundance of lithium in NGC 2232 stars is in agreement with undepleted values reported for other cluster main sequence stars. Our abundances are similar to other metal-rich open clusters and Galactic thin and thick disk stars.

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arXiv2010

Chemical Abundances for 855 Giants in the Globular Cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139)

We present elemental abundances for 855 red giant branch (RGB) stars in the globular cluster Omega Centauri (w Cen) from spectra obtained with the Blanco 4m telescope and Hydra multifiber spectrograph. The sample includes nearly all RGB stars brighter than V=13.5, and span's w Cen's full metallicity range. The heavy alpha elements (Si, Ca, and Ti) are generally enhanced by ~+0.3 dex, and exhibit a metallicity dependent morphology that may be attributed to mass and metallicity dependent Type II supernova (SN) yields. The heavy alpha and Fe-peak abundances suggest minimal contributions from Type Ia SNe. The light elements (O, Na, and Al) exhibit >0.5 dex abundance dispersions at all metallicities, and a majority of stars with [Fe/H]>-1.6 have [O/Fe], [Na/Fe], and [Al/Fe] abundances similar to those in monometallic globular clusters, as well as O-Na, O-Al anticorrelations and the Na-Al correlation in all but the most metal-rich stars. A combination of pollution from intermediate mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and in situ mixing may explain the light element abundance patterns. A large fraction (27%) of w Cen stars are O-poor ([O/Fe]<0) and are preferentially located within 5-10' of the cluster center. The O-poor giants are spatially similar, located in the same metallicity range, and are present in nearly equal proportions to blue main sequence stars. This suggests the O-poor giants and blue main sequence stars may share a common origin. [La/Fe] increases sharply at [Fe/H]>-1.6, and the [La/Eu] ratios indicate the increase is due to almost pure s-process production.

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arXiv2009

A Large Sample Study of Red Giants in the Globular Cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139)

We present abundances of several light, alpha, Fe-peak, and neutron-capture elements for 66 red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster Omega Centauri. Our observations lie in the range 12.0 5 M_sun asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. At [Fe/H]>-1.2, more than 75% of the stars are Na/Al enhanced and may have formed almost exclusively from AGB ejecta. Most of these stars are enhanced in Na by at least 0.2 dex for a given Al abundance than would be expected based on "normal" globular cluster values. All stars in our sample are alpha-rich and have solar-scaled Fe-peak abundances. Eu does not vary extensively as a function of metallicity; however, [La/Fe] varies from about -0.4 to +2 and stars with [Fe/H]>-1.5 have [La/Eu] values indicating domination by the s-process. A quarter of our sample have [La/Eu]>+1 and may be the result of mass transfer in a binary system.

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arXiv2008

Chemical Analysis of Five Red Giants in the Globular Cluster M10 (NGC 6254)

We have determined Al, $α$, Fe-peak, and neutron capture elemental abundances for five red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster M10. Abundances were determined using equivalent width analyses of moderate resolution (R$\sim$15,000) spectra obtained with the Hydra multifiber positioner and bench spectrograph on the WIYN telescope. The data sample the upper RGB from the luminosity level near the horizontal branch to about 0.5 mag below the RGB tip. We find in agreement with previous studies that M10 is moderately metal-poor with [Fe/H]=-1.45 ($σ$=0.04). All stars appear enhanced in Al with $<$[Al/Fe]$>$=+0.33 ($σ$=0.19), but no stars have [Al/Fe]$\ga$+0.55. We find the $α$ elements to be enhanced by +0.20 to +0.40 dex and the Fe--peak elements to have [el/Fe]$\sim$0, which are consistent with predictions from type II SN ejecta. Additionally, the cluster appears to be r-process rich with $<$[Eu/La]$>$=+0.41.

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arXiv2008

Fe and Al Abundances for 180 Red Giants in the Globular Cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139)

We present radial velocities, Fe, and Al abundances for 180 red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic globular cluster Omega Centauri ($ω$ Cen). The majority of our data lie in the range 11.0$<$V$<$13.5, which covers the RGB from about 1 mag. above the horizontal branch to the RGB tip. The selection procedures are biased towards preferentially observing the more metal--poor and luminous stars of $ω$ Cen. Abundances were determined using equivalent width measurements and spectrum synthesis analyses of moderate resolution spectra (R$\approx$13,000) obtained with the Blanco 4m telescope and Hydra multifiber spectrograph. Our results are in agreement with previous studies as we find at least four different metallicity populations with [Fe/H]=--1.75, --1.45, --1.05, and --0.75, with a full range of --2.20$\la$[Fe/H]$\la$--0.70. [Al/Fe] ratios exhibit large star--to--star scatter for all populations, with the more than 1.0 dex range of [Al/Fe] decreasing for stars more metal--rich than [Fe/H]$\sim$--1.4. The minimum [Al/Fe] abundance observed for all metallicity populations is [Al/Fe]$\sim$+0.15. The maximum abundance of log $ε$(Al) is reached for stars with [Fe/H]$\sim$--1.4 and does not increase further with stellar metallicity. We interpret these results as evidence for type II SNe providing the minimum [Al/Fe] ratio and a mass spectrum of intermediate mass asymptotic giant branch stars causing the majority of the [Al/Fe] scatter. These results seem to fit in the adopted scheme that star formation occurred in $ω$ Cen over $>$1 Gyr.

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arXiv2007

Europium, Samarium, and Neodymium Isotopic Fractions in Metal-Poor Stars

We have derived isotopic fractions of europium, samarium, and neodymium in two metal-poor giants with differing neutron-capture nucleosynthetic histories. These isotopic fractions were measured from new high resolution (R ~ 120,000), high signal-to-noise (S/N ~ 160-1000) spectra obtained with the 2dCoude spectrograph of McDonald Observatory's 2.7m Smith telescope. Synthetic spectra were generated using recent high-precision laboratory measurements of hyperfine and isotopic subcomponents of several transitions of these elements and matched quantitatively to the observed spectra. We interpret our isotopic fractions by the nucleosynthesis predictions of the stellar model, which reproduces s-process nucleosynthesis from the physical conditions expected in low-mass, thermally-pulsing stars on the AGB, and the classical method, which approximates s-process nucleosynthesis by a steady neutron flux impinging upon Fe-peak seed nuclei. Our Eu isotopic fraction in HD 175305 is consistent with an r-process origin by the classical method and is consistent with either an r- or an s-process origin by the stellar model. Our Sm isotopic fraction in HD 175305 suggests a predominantly r-process origin, and our Sm isotopic fraction in HD 196944 is consistent with an s-process origin. The Nd isotopic fractions, while consistent with either r-process or s-process origins, have very little ability to distinguish between any physical values for the isotopic fraction in either star. This study for the first time extends the n-capture origin of multiple rare earths in metal-poor stars from elemental abundances to the isotopic level, strengthening the r-process interpretation for HD 175305 and the s-process interpretation for HD196944.

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arXiv2004

Hydra Observations of Aluminum Abundances in the Red Giants of the Globular Clusters M80 and NGC 6752

Aluminum and other metal abundances were determined in 21 red giants in the globular clusters NGC 6752 and M80 as part of a larger study to determine whether the aluminum distribution on the red giant branch is related to the second parameter effect that causes clusters of similar metallicity to display different horizontal branch morphologies. The observations were obtained of the Al I lines near 6700 Angstroms with the CTIO Blanco 4-m telescope and Hydra multi-object spectrograph. The spectra have a resolving power of 18000 or 9400, with typical S/N ratios of 100-200. Mean [Fe/H] values obtained from the spectra are -1.58 for NGC 6752 and -1.73 for M80; this represents the first spectroscopic iron abundance determination for M80. Both NGC 6752 and M80 display a spread in aluminum abundance, with mean [Al/Fe] ratios of +0.51 and +0.37, respectively. No trend in the variation of the mean Al abundance with position on the giant branch is discernible in either cluster with our small sample.

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arXiv2000

Neutron-Capture Elements in the Early Galaxy: Insights from a Large Sample of Metal-Poor Giants

New abundances for neutron-capture (n-capture) elements in a large sample of metal-poor giants from the Bond survey are presented. The spectra were acquired with the KPNO 4-m echelle and coude feed spectrographs, and have been analyzed using LTE fine-analysis techniques with both line analysis and spectral synthesis. Abundances of eight n-capture elements (Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Nd, Eu, Dy) in 43 stars have been derived from blue (lambda = 4070--4710, R~20,000, S/N ratio~100-200) echelle spectra and red (lambda = 6100--6180, R~22,000, S/N ratio~100-200) coude spectra, and the abundance of Ba only has been derived from the red spectra for an additional 27 stars. Overall, the abundances show clear evidence for a large star-to-star dispersion in the heavy element-to-iron ratios. The new data also confirm that at metallicities [Fe/H] <~ --2.4, the abundance pattern of the heavy (Z >= 56) n-capture elements in most giants is well-matched to a scaled Solar System r-process nucleosynthesis pattern. The onset of the main r-process can be seen at [Fe/H] ~ --2.9. Contributions from the s-process can first be seen in some stars with metallicities as low as [Fe/H] ~ --2.75, and are present in most stars with metallicities [Fe/H] > --2.3. The lighter n-capture elements (Sr-Y-Zr) are enhanced relative to the heavier r-process element abundances. Their production cannot be attributed solely to any combination of the Solar System r- and main s-processes, but requires a mixture of material from the r-process and from an additional n-capture process which can operate at early Galactic time.

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