arXiv subjects

G. Gilmore

Publications and source records attributed to G. Gilmore.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Properties of the intermediate age open cluster NGC 4815

NGC 4815 is a populous ~500 Myr open cluster at a Galactocentric radius of 7 kpc observed in the first six months of the Gaia-ESO Survey. Located in the inner Galactic disk, NGC 4815 is an important tracer of the abundance gradient, where few intermediate age open clusters are found. We use the survey derived radial velocities, stellar atmospheric parameters, metallicity, and elemental abundances for stars targeted as potential members of this cluster to carry out an analysis of cluster properties. The radial velocity distribution of stars in the cluster field is used to define the cluster systemic velocity and derive likely cluster membership for stars observed by the Gaia-ESO Survey. We investigate the distributions of Fe and Fe-peak elements, alpha-elements, and the light elements Na and Al and characterize the cluster's internal chemical homogeneity comparing it to the properties of radial velocity non-member stars. Utilizing these cluster properties, the cluster color-magnitude diagram is analyzed and theoretical isochrones are fit to derive cluster reddening, distance, and age. NGC 4815 is found to have a mean [Fe/H]=+0.03. Elemental abundances of cluster members show typically small internal variation, with internal dispersions of ~0.05 dex. [Ca/Fe] and [Si/Fe] show solar ratios, but [Mg/Fe] is moderately enhanced, while [Ti/Fe] appears slightly deficient. As with many open clusters, [Na/Fe] and [Al/Fe] are enhanced, [Na/Fe] significantly so, although the role of internal mixing and the assumption of LTE in the analysis remain to be investigated. From isochrone fits to color-magnitude diagrams, we find a cluster age of 0.5 to 0.63 Gyr, a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.59 to 0.65, and a true distance modulus (m-M) = 11.95 to 12.20, depending on the choice of theoretical models, leading to a Galactocentric distance of 6.9 kpc.

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arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: processing of the FLAMES-UVES spectra

The Gaia-ESO Survey is a large public spectroscopic survey that aims to derive radial velocities and fundamental parameters of about 10^5 Milky Way stars in the field and in clusters. Observations are carried out with the multi-object optical spectrograph FLAMES, using simultaneously the medium resolution (R~20,000) GIRAFFE spectrograph and the high resolution (R~47,000) UVES spectrograph. In this paper, we describe the methods and the software used for the data reduction, the derivation of the radial velocities, and the quality control of the FLAMES-UVES spectra. Data reduction has been performed using a workflow specifically developed for this project. This workflow runs the ESO public pipeline optimizing the data reduction for the Gaia-ESO Survey, performs automatically sky subtraction, barycentric correction and normalisation, and calculates radial velocities and a first guess of the rotational velocities. The quality control is performed using the output parameters from the ESO pipeline, by a visual inspection of the spectra and by the analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra. Using the observations of the first 18 months, specifically targets observed multiple times at different epochs, stars observed with both GIRAFFE and UVES, and observations of radial velocity standards, we estimated the precision and the accuracy of the radial velocities. The statistical error on the radial velocities is sigma~0.4 km s^-1 and is mainly due to uncertainties in the zero point of the wavelength calibration. However, we found a systematic bias with respect to the GIRAFFE spectra (~0.9 km s^-1) and to the radial velocities of the standard stars (~0.5 kms^-1) retrieved from the literature. This bias will be corrected in the future data releases, when a common zero point for all the setups and instruments used for the survey will be established.

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arXiv2014

Constraints on the Galactic Bar from the Hercules stream as traced with RAVE across the Galaxy

Non-axisymmetries in the Galactic potential (spiral arms and bar) induce kinematic groups such as the Hercules stream. Assuming that Hercules is caused by the effects of the Outer Lindblad Resonance of the Galactic bar, we model analytically its properties as a function of position in the Galaxy and its dependence on the bar's pattern speed and orientation. Using data from the RAVE survey we find that the azimuthal velocity of the Hercules structure decreases as a function of Galactocentric radius, in a manner consistent with our analytical model. This allows us to obtain new estimates of the parameters of the Milky Way's bar. The combined likelihood function of the bar's pattern speed and angle has its maximum for a pattern speed of $Ω_b=(1.89 \pm 0.08) \times Ω_0$ where $Ω_0$ is the local circular frequency. Assuming a Solar radius of 8.05 kpc and a local circular velocity of 238 km/s, this corresponds to $Ω_b=56\pm 2$ km/s/kpc. On the other hand, the bar's orientation $ϕ_b$ cannot be constrained with the available data. In fact, the likelihood function shows that a tight correlation exists between the pattern speed and the orientation, implying that a better description of our best fit results is given by the linear relation $Ω_b/Ω_0=1.91 + 0.0044[ϕ_b(°)-48]$, with standard deviation of 0.02. For example, for an angle of $ϕ_b=30°$ the pattern speed is $54.0\pm0.5$ km/s/kpc. These results are not very sensitive to the other Galactic parameters such as the circular velocity curve or the peculiar motion of the Sun, and are robust to biases in distance.

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arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Kinematic structure in the Gamma Velorum Cluster

Context: A key science goal of the Gaia-ESO survey (GES) is to use the kinematics of low-mass stars in young clusters to probe their dynamical histories and how they populate the field as they become unbound. The clustering of low-mass stars around the massive W-R binary gamma^2 Velorum was one of the first GES targets. Aims: To empirically determine the radial velocity (RV) precision of GES data, construct a kinematically unbiased sample of cluster members and characterise their dynamical state. Methods: Targets were selected from colour-magnitude diagrams and intermediate resolution spectroscopy used to derive RVs and assess membership from the strength of the Li6708A line. The RV distribution was analysed using a maximum likelihood technique that accounts for unresolved binaries. Results: The GES RV precision is about 0.25km/s and sufficient to resolve velocity structure in the low-mass population around gamma^2 Vel. The structure is well fitted by two kinematic components with roughly equal numbers of stars; the first has an intrinsic dispersion of 0.34+/-0.16km/s, consistent with virial equilibrium. The second has a broader dispersion of 1.60+/-0.37km/s and is offset from the first by ~2km/s. The first population is older by 1-2Myr based on a greater level of Li depletion seen among its M-stars and is probably more centrally concentrated around gamma^2 Vel. Conclusions: We consider several formation scenarios, concluding that the two kinematic components are a bound remnant of the original, denser cluster that formed gamma^2 Vel, and a dispersed population from the wider Vela OB2 association, of which gamma^2 Vel is the most massive member. The apparent youth of gamma^2 Vel compared to the older (>=10Myr) low-mass population surrounding it suggests a scenario where the massive binary formed in a clustered environment after the formation of the bulk of the low-mass stars.[abridged]

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arXiv2014

Metallicity and kinematics of the bar in-situ

Constraints on the Galactic bulge/bar structure and formation history from stellar kinematics and metallicities mainly come from relatively high-latitude fields (|b|>4) where a complex mix of stellar population is seen. We aim here to constrain the formation history of the Galactic bar by studying the radial velocity and metallicity distributions of stars in-situ (|b|<1). We observed red clump stars in four fields along the bar's major axis (l=10,6,-6 and b=0 plus a field at l=0,b=1) with low-resolution spectroscopy from VLT/FLAMES, observing around the CaII triplet. We developed robust methods for extracting radial velocity and metallicity estimates from these low signal-to-noise spectra. We derived distance probability distributions using Bayesian methods rigorously handling the extinction law. We present radial velocities and metallicity distributions, as well as radial velocity trends with distance. We observe an increase in the radial velocity dispersion near the Galactic plane. We detect the streaming motion of the stars induced by the bar in fields at l=+/-6, the highest velocity components of this bar stream being metal-rich ([Fe/H]~0.2 dex). Our data is consistent with a bar inclined at 26+/-3 from the Sun-Galactic centre line. We observe a significant fraction of metal-poor stars, in particular in the field at l=0,b=1. We confirm the flattening of the metallicity gradient along the minor axis when getting closer to the plane, with a hint that it could actually be inverted. Our stellar kinematics corresponds to the expected behaviour of a bar issued from the secular evolution of the Galactic disc. The mix of several populations, seen further away from the plane, is also seen in the bar in-situ since our metallicity distributions highlight a different spatial distribution between metal-poor and metal-rich stars, the more metal-poor stars being more centrally concentrated.

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arXiv2013

A new stellar chemo-kinematic relation reveals the merger history of the Milky Way disc

The velocity dispersions of stars near the Sun are known to increase with stellar age, but age can be difficult to determine so a proxy like the abundance of alpha elements (e.g., Mg) with respect to iron, [alpha/Fe], is used. Here we report an unexpected behavior found in the velocity dispersion of a sample of giant stars from the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) survey with high quality chemical and kinematical information, in that it decreases strongly for stars with [Mg/Fe] > 0.4 dex (i.e., those that formed in the first Gyr of the Galaxy's life). These findings can be explained by perturbations from massive mergers in the early Universe, which have affected more strongly the outer parts of the disc, and the subsequent radial migration of stars with cooler kinematics from the inner disc. Similar reversed trends in velocity dispersion are also found for different metallicity subpopulations. Our results suggest that the Milky Way disc merger history can be recovered by relating the observed chemo-kinematic relations to the properties of past merger events.

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arXiv2013

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Abundance ratios in the inner-disk open clusters Trumpler 20, NGC 4815, NGC 6705

Open clusters are key tools to study the spatial distribution of abundances in the disk and their evolution with time. Using the first release of stellar parameters and abundances of the Gaia-ESO Survey, we analyse the chemical properties of stars in three old/intermediate-age open clusters, namely NGC 6705, NGC 4815, and Trumpler 20, all located in the inner part of the Galactic disk at Galactocentric radius R$_{GC}\sim$7 kpc, aiming at proving their homogeneity and at comparing them with the field population. We study the abundance ratios of elements belonging to two different nucleosynthetic channels: $α$-elements and iron-peak elements. The main results can be summarised as follows: i) cluster members are chemically homogeneous within 3-$σ$ in all analysed elements; ii) the three clusters have comparable [El/Fe] patters within $\sim$1-$σ$, but they differ in their global metal content [El/H], with NGC 4815 having the lowest metallicity. Their [El/Fe] ratios show differences and analogies with those of the field population, both in the solar neighbourhood and in the bulge/inner disk; iii) comparing the abundance ratios with the results of two chemical evolution models and with field star abundance distributions, we find that the abundance ratios of Mg, Ni, Ca in NGC 6705 might require an inner birthplace, implying a subsequent variation of its R$_{GC}$ during its lifetime, consistent with previous orbit determination. The full dataset of the Gaia-ESO Survey will be a superlative tool to constrain the chemical evolution of our Galaxy by disentangling different formation and evolution scenarios.

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arXiv2013

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Reevaluation of the parameters of the open cluster Trumpler 20 using photometry and spectroscopy

Trumpler 20 is an old open cluster (OC) located toward the Galactic centre, at about 3 kpc from the Sun and $\sim$7 kpc from the Galactic centre. Its position makes this cluster particularly interesting in the framework of the chemical properties of the Galactic disc because very few old OCs reside in the inner part of the disc. For this reason it has been selected as a cluster target of the Gaia-ESO Survey, and spectra of many stars in the main sequence and red clump phases are now available. Moreover, although it has been studied by several authors in the past, no consensus on the evolutionary status of Tr 20 has been reached. The heavy contamination of field stars (the line of sight of Tr 20 crosses the Carina spiral arm) complicates a correct interpretation. Another interesting aspect of the cluster is that it shows a broadened main-sequence turn-off and a prominent and extended red-clump, characteristics that are not easily explained by classical evolutionary models. Exploiting both spectroscopic information from the Gaia-ESO Survey (and the ESO archive) and literature photometry, we obtain a detailed and accurate analysis of the properties of the cluster. We make use of the first accurate metallicity measurement ever obtained from several spectra of red clump stars, and of cluster membership determination using radial velocities. According to the evolutionary models adopted, we find that Tr 20 has an age in the range 1.35-1.66 Gyr, an average reddening $E(B-V)$ in the range 0.31-0.35 mag, and a distance modulus $(m-M)_0$ between 12.64 and 12.72 mag. The spectroscopic metallicity is [Fe/H]=+0.17 dex. We discuss the structural properties of the object and constrain possible hypotheses for its broadened upper main sequence by estimating the effect of differential reddening and its extended red clump.

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arXiv2013

Precession of the Sagittarius stream

Using a variety of stellar tracers -- blue horizontal branch stars, main-sequence turn-off stars and red giants -- we follow the path of the Sagittarius (Sgr) stream across the sky in Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. Our study presents new Sgr debris detections, accurate distances and line-of-sight velocities that together help to shed new light on the puzzle of the Sgr tails. For both the leading and the trailing tail, we trace the points of their maximal extent, or apo-centric distances, and find that they lie at $R^L$ = 47.8 $\pm$ 0.5 kpc and $R^T$ = 102.5 $\pm$ 2.5 kpc respectively. The angular difference between the apo-centres is 93.2 $\pm$ 3.5 deg, which is smaller than predicted for logarithmic haloes. Such differential orbital precession can be made consistent with models of the Milky Way in which the dark matter density falls more quickly with radius. However, currently, no existing Sgr disruption simulation can explain the entirety of the observational data. Based on its position and radial velocity, we show that the unusually large globular cluster NGC 2419 can be associated with the Sgr trailing stream. We measure the precession of the orbital plane of the Sgr debris in the Milky Way potential and show that, surprisingly, Sgr debris in the primary (brighter) tails evolves differently to the secondary (fainter) tails, both in the North and the South.

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arXiv2013

The RAVE survey: the Galactic escape speed and the mass of the Milky Way

We construct new estimates on the Galactic escape speed at various Galactocentric radii using the latest data release of the Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE DR4). Compared to previous studies we have a database larger by a factor of 10 as well as reliable distance estimates for almost all stars. Our analysis is based on the statistical analysis of a rigorously selected sample of 90 high-velocity halo stars from RAVE and a previously published data set. We calibrate and extensively test our method using a suite of cosmological simulations of the formation of Milky Way-sized galaxies. Our best estimate of the local Galactic escape speed, which we define as the minimum speed required to reach three virial radii $R_{340}$, is $533^{+54}_{-41}$ km/s (90% confidence) with an additional 5% systematic uncertainty, where $R_{340}$ is the Galactocentric radius encompassing a mean over-density of 340 times the critical density for closure in the Universe. From the escape speed we further derive estimates of the mass of the Galaxy using a simple mass model with two options for the mass profile of the dark matter halo: an unaltered and an adiabatically contracted Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) sphere. If we fix the local circular velocity the latter profile yields a significantly higher mass than the un-contracted halo, but if we instead use the statistics on halo concentration parameters in large cosmological simulations as a constraint we find very similar masses for both models. Our best estimate for $M_{340}$, the mass interior to $R_{340}$ (dark matter and baryons), is $1.3^{+0.4}_{-0.3} \times 10^{12}$ M$_\odot$ (corresponding to $M_{200} = 1.6^{+0.5}_{-0.4} \times 10^{12}$ M$_\odot$). This estimate is in good agreement with recently published independent mass estimates based on the kinematics of more distant halo stars and the satellite galaxy Leo I.

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arXiv2013

In the thick of it: metal-poor disc stars in RAVE

By selecting in the RAVE-DR4 survey the stars located between 1 and 2 kpc above the Galactic plane, we question the consistency of the simplest three-component model (thin disc, thick disc, halo) for the Milky Way. We confirm that the metallicity and azimuthal velocity distribution functions of the thick disc are not Gaussian. In particular, we find that the thick disc has an extended metallicity tail going at least down to [M/H]=-2 dex, contributing roughly at 3% of the entire thick disc population and having a shorter scale-length compared to the canonical thick disc. The mean azimuthal velocity of these metal-poor stars allows us to estimate the correlation between the metallicity and the orbital velocity, which is an important constraint on the formation mechanisms of the Galactic thick disc. Given our simple approach, we find dVphi/d[M/H] ~ 50 km/s/dex, which is in a very good agreement with previous literature values. We complete the study with a brief discussion on the implications of the formation scenarios for the thick disc, and suggest that given the above mentioned characteristics, a thick disc mainly formed by radial migration mechanisms seems unlikely.

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arXiv2013

A RAVE Investigation on Galactic open Clusters I. Radial velocities and metallicities

Context. Galactic open clusters (OCs) mainly belong to the young stellar population in the Milky Way disk, but are there groups and complexes of OCs that possibly define an additional level in hierarchical star formation? Current compilations are too incomplete to address this question, especially regarding radial velocities (RVs) and metallicities ($[M/H]$). Aims. Here we provide and discuss newly obtained RV and $[M/H]$ data, which will enable us to reinvestigate potential groupings of open clusters and associations. Methods.We extracted additional RVs and $[M/H]$ from the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) via a cross-match with the Catalogue of Stars in Open Cluster Areas (CSOCA). For the identified OCs in RAVE we derived RV and $[M/H]$ from a cleaned working sample and compared the results with previous findings. Results. Although our RAVE sample does not show the same accuracy as the entire survey, we were able to derive reliable RV for 110 Galactic open clusters. For 37 OCs we publish RV for the first time. Moreover, we determined $[M/H]$ for 81 open clusters, extending the number of OCs with $[M/H]$ by 69.

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arXiv2013

Chemical gradients in the Milky Way from the RAVE data. I. Dwarf stars

Aim: We aim at measuring the chemical gradients of the elements Mg, Al, Si, and Fe along the Galactic radius to provide new constraints on the chemical evolution models of the Galaxy and Galaxy models such as the Besancon model. Methods: We analysed three different samples selected from three independent datasets: a sample of 19,962 dwarf stars selected from the RAVE database, a sample of 10,616 dwarf stars selected from the Geneva-Copenhagen Survey (GCS) dataset, and a mock sample (equivalent to the RAVE sample) created by using the GALAXIA code, which is based on the Besancon model. We measured the chemical gradients as functions of the guiding radius (Rg) at different distances from the Galactic plane reached by the stars along their orbit (Zmax). Results: The chemical gradients of the RAVE and GCS samples are negative and show consistent trends, although they are not equal: at Zmax<0.4 kpc and 4.5<Rg(kpc)<9.5, the iron gradient for the RAVE sample is d[Fe/H]/dRg=-0.065 dex kpc^{-1}, whereas for the GCS sample it is d[Fe/H]/dRg=-0.043 dex kpc^{-1} with internal errors +-0.002 and +-0.004 dex kpc^{-1}, respectively. The gradients of the RAVE and GCS samples become flatter at larger Zmax. Conversely, the mock sample has a positive iron gradient of d[Fe/H]/dRg=+0.053+-0.003 dex kpc^{-1} at Zmax<0.4 kpc and remains positive at any Zmax. These positive and unrealistic values originate from the lack of correlation between metallicity and tangential velocity in the Besancon model. The discrepancies between the observational samples and the mock sample can be reduced by i) decreasing the density, ii) decreasing the vertical velocity, and iii) increasing the metallicity of the thick disc in the Besancon model.

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arXiv2013

The RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE): Fourth data release

We present the stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, overall metallicity), radial velocities, individual abundances and distances determined for 425 561 stars, which constitute the fourth public data release of the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE). The stellar atmospheric parameters are computed using a new pipeline, based on the algorithms of MATISSE and DEGAS. The spectral degeneracies and the 2MASS photometric information are now better taken into consideration, improving the parameter determination compared to the previous RAVE data releases. The individual abundances for six elements (magnesium, aluminum, silicon, titanium, iron and nickel) are also given, based on a special-purpose pipeline which is also improved compared to that available for the RAVE DR3 and Chemical DR1 data releases. Together with photometric information and proper motions, these data can be retrieved from the RAVE collaboration website and the Vizier database.

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arXiv2013

Diffuse interstellar band at 8620 Å in RAVE: A new method for detecting the diffuse interstellar band in spectra of cool stars

Diffuse interstellar bands are usually observed in spectra of hot stars, where interstellar lines are rarely blended with stellar ones. The need for hot stars is a strong limitation in the number of sightlines we can observe and the distribution of sightlines in the Galaxy, as hot stars are rare and concentrated in the Galactic plane. We are introducing a new method, where interstellar lines can be observed in spectra of cool stars in large spectroscopic surveys. The method is completely automated and does not require prior knowledge of the stellar parameters. If known, the stellar parameters only reduce the computational time and are not involved in the extraction of the interstellar spectrum. The main step in extracting interstellar lines is a construction of the stellar spectrum, which is in our method done by finding other observed spectra that lack interstellar features and are otherwise very similar to the spectrum in question. Such spectra are then combined into a single stellar spectrum template, which matches the stellar component in an observed spectrum. We demonstrate the performance of this new method on a sample of 482,430 spectra observed in RAVE survey. However, many spectra have to be combined (48 on average) in order to achieve a S/N ratio high enough to measure the DIB's profile, hence limiting the spatial information about the ISM. Only one strong interstellar line is included in the RAVE spectral range, a diffuse interstellar band at 8620 Å. We compare its equivalent width with extinction maps and with Bayesian reddening, calculated for individual stars, and provide a linear relation between the equivalent width and reddening. Separately from the introduced method, we calculate equivalent widths of the diffuse interstellar band in spectra of hot stars with known extinction and compare all three linear relations with each other and with relations from the literature.

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arXiv2013

Kinematic groups beyond the Solar neighbourhood with RAVE

We analyse the kinematics of disc stars observed by the RAVE survey in and beyond the Solar neighbourhood.We detect significant overdensities in the velocity distributions using a technique based on the wavelet transform.We find that the main local kinematic groups are large scale features, surviving at least up to ~1 kpc from the Sun in the direction of anti-rotation, and also at ~700 pc below the Galactic plane.We also find that for regions located at different radii than the Sun, the known groups appear shifted in the velocity plane. For example, the Hercules group has a larger azimuthal velocity for regions inside the Solar circle and a lower value outside. We have also discovered a new group at (U, V) = (92,-22) km/s in the Solar neighbourhood and confirmed the significance of other previously found groups. Some of these trends detected for the first time are consistent with dynamical models of the effects of the bar and the spiral arms. More modelling is required to definitively characterise the non-axisymmetric components of our Galaxy using these groups.

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arXiv2013

Through thick and thin: Structure of the Galactic thick disc from extragalactic surveys

We aim to understand the accretion history of the Milky Way by exploring the vertical and radial properties of the Galactic thick disc. We study the chemical and kinematic properties of roughly a thousand spectra of faint magnitude foreground Galactic stars observed serendipitously during extra-galactic surveys in four lines-of-sight: three in the southern Galactic hemisphere (surveys of the Carina, Fornax and Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxies) and one in the northern Galactic hemisphere (a survey of the Sextans dwarf spheroidal galaxy). The foreground stars span distances up to 3kpc from the Galactic plane and Galactocentric radii up to 11kpc. Only three lines-of-sight have a sufficient number of foreground stars for a robust analysis. Towards Sextans in the Northern Galactic hemisphere and Sculptor in the South, we measure a consistent decrease in mean metallicity with height from the Galactic plane, suggesting a chemically symmetric thick disc. This decrease can either be due to an intrinsic thick disc metallicity gradient, or simply due to a change in the thin disc/thick disc population ratio and no intrinsic metallicity gradients for the thick disc. We favour the latter explanation. In contrast, we find evidence of an unpredicted metal-poor population in the direction of Carina. This population was earlier detected by Wyse et al. (2006), but our more detailed analysis provides robust estimates of its location (|Z|<1kpc), metallicity (-2<[M/H]<-1 dex) and azimuthal orbital velocity (V_phi ~120 km/s). Given the chemo-dynamical properties of the over-density towards the Carina line-of-sight, we suggest that it represents the metal-poor tail of the canonical thick disc. In spite of the small number of stars available, we suggest that this metal-weak thick disc follows the often suggested thick disc velocity-metallicity correlation of dV_phi/d[M/H]~40-50km/s/dex.

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arXiv2013

The relation between chemical abundances and kinematics of the Galactic disc with RAVE

Aims: We study the relations between stellar kinematics and chemical abundances of a large sample of RAVE giants in search for selection criteria needed for disentangling different Galactic stellar populations. Methods: We select a sample of 2167 giant stars with signal-to-noise per spectral measurements above 75 from the RAVE chemical catalogue and follow the analysis performed by Gratton and colleagues on 150 subdwarf stars spectroscopically observed at high-resolution. We then use a larger sample of 9131 giants (with signal-to-noise above 60) to investigate the chemo-kinematical characteristics of our stars by grouping them into nine subsamples with common eccentricity ($e$) and maximum distance achieved above the Galactic plane ($Z_max$). Results: The RAVE kinematical and chemical data proved to be reliable by reproducing the results by Gratton et al. obtained with high-resolution spectroscopic data. Our analysis, based on the $e$-$Z_max$ plane combined with additional orbital parameters and chemical information, provides an alternative way of identifying different populations of stars. In addition to extracting canonical thick- and thin-disc samples, we find a group of stars in the Galactic plane ($Z_max<1$ kpc and 0.4 $< e < $0.6), which show homogeneous kinematics but differ in their chemical properties. We interpret this as a clear sign that some of these stars have experienced the effects of heating and/or radial migration, which have modified their original orbits. The accretion origin of such stars cannot be excluded.

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