arXiv subjects

P. Francois

Publications and source records attributed to P. Francois.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Gaia-ESO Survey: The analysis of high-resolution UVES spectra of FGK-type stars

The Gaia-ESO Survey is obtaining high-quality spectroscopic data for about 10^5 stars using FLAMES at the VLT. UVES high-resolution spectra are being collected for about 5000 FGK-type stars. These UVES spectra are analyzed in parallel by several state-of-the-art methodologies. Our aim is to present how these analyses were implemented, to discuss their results, and to describe how a final recommended parameter scale is defined. We also discuss the precision (method-to-method dispersion) and accuracy (biases with respect to the reference values) of the final parameters. These results are part of the Gaia-ESO 2nd internal release and will be part of its 1st public release of advanced data products. The final parameter scale is tied to the one defined by the Gaia benchmark stars, a set of stars with fundamental atmospheric parameters. A set of open and globular clusters is used to evaluate the physical soundness of the results. Each methodology is judged against the benchmark stars to define weights in three different regions of the parameter space. The final recommended results are the weighted-medians of those from the individual methods. The recommended results successfully reproduce the benchmark stars atmospheric parameters and the expected Teff-log g relation of the calibrating clusters. Atmospheric parameters and abundances have been determined for 1301 FGK-type stars observed with UVES. The median of the method-to-method dispersion of the atmospheric parameters is 55 K for Teff, 0.13 dex for log g, and 0.07 dex for [Fe/H]. Systematic biases are estimated to be between 50-100 K for Teff, 0.10-0.25 dex for log g, and 0.05-0.10 dex for [Fe/H]. Abundances for 24 elements were derived: C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Mo, Ba, Nd, and Eu. The typical method-to-method dispersion of the abundances varies between 0.10 and 0.20 dex.

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arXiv2014

On the fine structure of the Cepheid metallicity gradient in the Galactic thin disk

We present homogeneous and accurate iron abundances for 42 Galactic Cepheids based on high-spectral resolution (R~38,000) high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR>100) optical spectra collected with UVES at VLT (128 spectra). The above abundances were complemented with high-quality iron abundances provided either by our group (86) or available in the literature. We paid attention in deriving a common metallicity scale and ended up with a sample of 450 Cepheids. We also estimated for the entire sample accurate individual distances by using homogeneous near-infrared photometry and the reddening free Period-Wesenheit relations. The new metallicity gradient is linear over a broad range of Galactocentric distances (Rg~5-19 kpc) and agrees quite well with similar estimates available in the literature (-0.060+/-0.002 dex/kpc). We also uncover evidence which suggests that the residuals of the metallicity gradient are tightly correlated with candidate Cepheid Groups (CGs). The candidate CGs have been identified as spatial overdensities of Cepheids located across the thin disk. They account for a significant fraction of the residual fluctuations, and in turn for the large intrinsic dispersion of the metallicity gradient. We performed a detailed comparison with metallicity gradients based on different tracers: OB stars and open clusters. We found very similar metallicity gradients for ages younger than 3 Gyrs, while for older ages we found a shallower slope and an increase in the intrinsic spread. The above findings rely on homogeneous age, metallicity and distance scales. Finally we found, by using a large sample of Galactic and Magellanic Cepheids for which are available accurate iron abundances, that the dependence of the luminosity amplitude on metallicity is vanishing.

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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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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

TOPoS: I. Survey design and analysis of the first sample

The metal-weak tail of the metallicity distribution function (MDF) of the Galactic Halo stars contains crucial information on the formation mode of the first generation of stars. To determine this observationally, it is necessary to observe large numbers of extremely metal-poor stars. We present here the Turn-Off Primordial Stars survey (TOPoS) that is conducted as an ESO Large Programme at the VLT. This project has {four} main goals: (i) to understand the formation of low-mass stars in a low-metallicity gas: determine the metal-weak tail of the halo MDF below [M/H]=-3.5. In particular, we aim at determining the critical metallicity, that is the lowest metallicity sufficient for the formation of low-mass stars; (ii) to determine the relative abundance of the elements in extremely metal-poor stars, which are the signature of the massive first stars; (iii) to determine the trend of the lithium abundance at the time when the Galaxy formed; and (iv) to derive the fraction of C-enhanced extremely metal-poor stars with respect to normal extremely metal-poor stars. The large number of stars observed in the SDSS provides a good sample of candidates of stars at extremely low metallicity. Candidates with turn-off colours down to magnitude g=20 were selected from the low-resolution spectra of SDSS by means of an automated procedure. X-Shooter has the potential of performing the necessary follow-up spectroscopy, providing accurate metallicities and abundance ratios for several key elements for these stars. We here present the stellar parameters of the first set of stars. The nineteen stars range in iron abundance between -4.1 and -2.9 dex relative to the Sun. Two stars have a high radial velocity and, according to our estimate of their kinematics, appear to be marginally bound to the Galaxy and are possibly accreted from another galaxy.

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arXiv2013

X-Shooter GTO: evidence for a population of extremely metal-poor, alpha-poor stars

The extremely metal-poor stars are the direct descendants of the first generation stars. They carry the chemical signature of the pristine Universe at the time they formed, shortly after the Big Bang. We aim to derive information about extremely metal-poor stars from their observed spectra. Four extremely metal-poor stars were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and observed during the guaranteed observing time of X-Shooter. The X-Shooter spectra were analysed using an automatic code, MyGIsFOS, which is based on a traditional analysis method. It makes use of a synthetic grid computed from one-dimensional, plane-parallel, hydrostatic model atmospheres. The low metallicity derived from the SDSS spectra is confirmed here. Two kinds of stars are found. Two stars are confirmed to be extremely metal-poor, with no evidence of any enhancement in carbon. The two other stars are strongly enhanced in carbon. We could not derive iron abundance for one of them, while [Ca/H] is below -4.5. Two of the stars are members of the rare population of extremely metal-poor stars low in alpha elements.

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arXiv2013

Galactic abundance gradients from Cepheids: alpha and heavy elements in the outer disk

Context: Galactic abundance gradients set strong constraints to chemo-dynamical evolutionary models of the Milky Way. Given the PL relations that provide accurate distances and the large number of spectral lines, Cepheids are excellent tracers of the present-day abundance gradients. Aims: We want to measure the Galactic abundance gradient of several chemical elements. While the slope of the Cepheid iron gradient did not vary much from the very first studies, the gradients of the other elements are not that well constrained. In this paper we focus on the inner and outer regions of the Galactic thin disk. Methods: We use HR spectra (FEROS, ESPADONS, NARVAL) to measure the abundances of several light (Na, Al), alpha (Mg, Si, S, Ca), and heavy elements (Y, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, Eu) in a sample of 65 Milky Way Cepheids. Combining these results with accurate distances from period-Wesenheit relations in the NIR enables us to determine the abundance gradients in the Milky Way. Results: Our results are in good agreement with previous studies on either Cepheids or other tracers. In particular, we confirm an upward shift of approximatively 0.2 dex for the Mg abundances, as has recently been reported. We also confirm the existence of a gradient for all the heavy elements studied in the context of a LTE analysis. However, for Y, Nd, and especially La, we find lower abundances for Cepheids in the outer disk than reported in previous studies, leading to steeper gradients. This effect can be explained by the differences in the line lists used by different groups. Conclusions: Our data do not support a flattening of the gradients in the outer disk, in agreement with recent Cepheid studies and chemo-dynamical simulations. This is in contrast to the open cluster observations but remains compatible with a picture where the transition zone between the inner disk and the outer disk would move outward with time.

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arXiv2013

Lithium abundance in the metal-poor open cluster NGC 2243

Lithium is a fundamental element for studying the mixing mechanisms acting in the stellar interiors, for understanding the chemical evolution of the Galaxy and the Big Bang nucleosynthesis. The study of Li in stars of open clusters (hereafter OC) allows a detailed comparison with stellar evolutionary models and permits us to trace its galactic evolution. The OC NGC 2243 is particularly interesting because of its low metallicity ([Fe/H]=$-0.54 \pm0.10$ dex). We measure the iron and lithium abundance in stars of the metal-poor OC NGC 2243. The first aim is to determine whether the Li dip extends to such low metallicities, the second is to compare the results of our Li analysis in this OC with those present in 47 Tuc, a globular cluster of similar metallicity. We performed a detailed analysis of high-resolution spectra obtained with the multi-object facility FLAMES at the ESO VLT 8.2m telescope. Lithium abundance was derived through line equivalent widths and the OSMARCS atmosphere models. We determine a Li dip center of 1.06 $M_\odot$, which is much smaller than that observed in solar metallicity and metal-rich clusters. This finding confirms and strengthens the conclusion that the mass of the stars in the Li dip strongly depends on stellar metallicity. The mean Li abundance of the cluster is $\log n{\rm (Li)}=2.70$ dex, which is substantially higher than that observed in 47 Tuc. We estimated an iron abundance of [Fe/H]=$-0.54 \pm0.10$ dex for NGC 2243, which is similar (within the errors) to previous findings. The [$ α$/Fe] content ranges from $0.00\pm0.14$ for Ca to $0.20\pm0.22$ for Ti, which is low when compared to thick disk stars and to Pop II stars, but compatible with thin disk objects. We found a mean radial velocity of 61.9 $\pm$ 0.8 \kms for the cluster.

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arXiv2011

X-shooter, the new wide band intermediate resolution spectrograph at the ESO Very Large Telescope

X-shooter is the first 2nd generation instrument of the ESO Very Large Telescope(VLT). It is a very efficient, single-target, intermediate-resolution spectrograph that was installed at the Cassegrain focus of UT2 in 2009. The instrument covers, in a single exposure, the spectral range from 300 to 2500 nm. It is designed to maximize the sensitivity in this spectral range through dichroic splitting in three arms with optimized optics, coatings, dispersive elements and detectors. It operates at intermediate spectral resolution (R~4,000 - 17,000, depending on wavelength and slit width) with fixed echelle spectral format (prism cross-dispersers) in the three arms. It includes a 1.8"x4" Integral Field Unit as an alternative to the 11" long slits. A dedicated data reduction package delivers fully calibrated two-dimensional and extracted spectra over the full wavelength range. We describe the main characteristics of the instrument and present its performance as measured during commissioning, science verification and the first months of science operations.

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arXiv2011

NLTE strontium abundance in a sample of extremely metal poor stars and the Sr/Ba ratio in the early Galaxy

Heavy element abundances in extremely metal-poor stars provide strong constraints on the processes of forming these elements in the first stars. We attempt to determine precise abundances of strontium in a homogeneous sample of extremely metal-poor stars. The abundances of strontium in 54 very or extremely metal-poor stars, was redetermined by abandoning the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) hypothesis, and fitting non-LTE (NLTE) profiles to the observed spectral lines. The corrected Sr abundances and previously obtained NLTE Ba abundances are compared to the predictions of several hypothetical formation processes for the lighter neutron-capture elements. Our NLTE abundances confirm the previously determined huge scatter of the strontium abundance in low metallicity stars. This scatter is also found (and is even larger) at very low metallicities (i. e. early in the chemical evolution). The Sr abundance in the extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars is compatible with the main r-process involved in other processes (or by variations of the r-process), as we briefly discuss.

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arXiv2011

First Stars XIV. Sulfur abundances in extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars

Sulfur is important: the site of its formation is uncertain, and at very low metallicity the trend of [S/Fe] against [Fe/H] is controversial. Below [Fe/H]=-2.0, [S/Fe] remains constant or it decreases with [Fe/H], depending on the author and the multiplet used in the analysis. Moreover, although sulfur is not significantly bound in dust grains in the ISM, it seems to behave differently in DLAs and in old metal-poor stars. We aim to determine precise S abundance in a sample of extremely metal-poor stars taking into account NLTE and 3D effects. NLTE profiles of the lines of the multiplet 1 of SI have been computed using a new model atom for S. We find sulfur in EMP stars to behave like the other alpha-elements, with [S/Fe] remaining approximately constant for [Fe/H]<-3. However, [S/Mg] seems to decrease slightly as a function of [Mg/H]. The overall abundance patterns of O, Na, Mg, Al, S, and K are best matched by the SN model yields by Heger & Woosley. The [S/Zn] ratio in EMP stars is solar, as found also in DLAs. We obtain an upper limit on the abundance of sulfur, [S/Fe] < +0.5, for the ultra metal-poor star CS 22949-037. This, along with a previous reported measurement of zinc, argues against the conjecture that the light-element abundances pattern in this star, and, by analogy, the hyper metal-poor stars HE 0107-5240 and HE 1327-2326, are due to dust depletion.

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arXiv2010

Extremely metal-poor stars in classical dwarf spheroidal galaxies: Fornax, Sculptor and Sextans

We present the results of a dedicated search for extremely metal-poor stars in the Fornax, Sculptor and Sextans dSphs. Five stars were selected from two earlier VLT/Giraffe and HET/HRS surveys and subsequently followed up at high spectroscopic resolution with VLT/UVES. All of them turned out to have [Fe/H] <= -3 and three stars are below [Fe/H] -3.5. This constitutes the first evidence that the classical dSphs Fornax and Sextans join Sculptor in containing extremely metal-poor stars and suggests that all of the classical dSphs contain extremely metal-poor stars. One giant in Sculptor at [Fe/H]=-3.96 +- 0.10 is the most metal-poor star ever observed in an external galaxy. We carried out a detailed analysis of the chemical abundances of the alpha, iron peak, and the heavy elements, and we performed a comparison with the Milky Way halo and the ultra faint dwarf stellar populations. Carbon, barium and strontium show distinct features characterized by the early stages of galaxy formation and can constrain the origin of their nucleosynthesis.

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arXiv2010

The metal-poor end of the Spite plateau. 1: Stellar parameters, metallicities and lithium abundances

We present VLT-UVES Li abundances for 28 halo dwarf stars between [Fe/H]=-2.5 and -3.5, 10 of which have [Fe/H]<-3. Four different T_eff scales have been used. Direct Infrared Flux Method (IRFM) has been used on the basis of 2MASS infrared photometry. H_alpha wings have been fitted against synthetic grids computed by means of 1D LTE atmosphere models, assuming different self-broadening theories. Finally, a grid of H_alpha profiles has been computed by means of 3D hydrodynamical atmosphere models. The Li I doublet at 670.8 nm has been used to measure A(Li) by means of 3D hydrodynamical NLTE spectral syntheses. An analytical fit of A(Li)(3D, NLTE) as a function of equivalent width, T_eff, log g, and [Fe/H] has been derived and is made available. A(Li) does not exhibit a plateau below [Fe/H]=-3. A strong positive correlation with [Fe/H] appears, not influenced by the choice of the T_eff estimator. From a linear fit, we obtain a strong slope of about 0.30 dex in A(Li) per dex in [Fe/H], significant to 2-3 sigma, and consistent among all the four T_eff estimators. A significant slope is also detected in the A(Li)--T_eff plane, driven mainly by the coolest stars in the sample which appear Li-poor. Removing such stars does not alter the behavior in the A(Li)-[Fe/H] plane. The scatter in A(Li) increases by a factor of 2 towards lower metallicities, while the plateau appears very thin above [Fe/H]=-2.8. The meltdown of the Spite plateau below [Fe/H]\sim-3 is established, but its cause is unclear. If the primordial A(Li) is the one derived from WMAP, it appears difficult to envision a single depletion phenomenon producing a thin, metallicity independent plateau above [Fe/H]=-2.8, and a highly scattered, metallicity dependent distribution below. The fact that no star below [Fe/H]=-3 lies above the plateau suggests that they formed at plateau level and underwent subsequent depletion.

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arXiv2010

A high resolution VLT/FLAMES study of individual stars in the centre of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy

For the first time we show the detailed late-stage chemical evolution history of small nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the Local Group. We present the results of a high resolution (R$\sim$20000) FLAMES/GIRAFFE abundance study at ESO/VLT of 81 photometrically selected red giant branch stars in the central 25$'$ of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We present abundances of \alfe\ (Mg, Si, Ca and Ti), iron-peak elements (Fe, Ni and Cr) and heavy elements (Y, Ba, La, Nd and Eu). Our sample was randomly selected, and is clearly dominated by the younger and more metal rich component of Fornax which represents the major fraction of stars in the central region. This means that the majority of our stars are 1$-$4 Gyr old, and thus represent the end phase of chemical evolution in this system. Our sample of stars has unusually low [$α$/Fe], [Ni/Fe] and [Na/Fe] compared to the Milky Way stellar populations at the same [Fe/H]. The particularly important role of stellar winds from low metallicity AGB stars in the creation of s-process elements is clearly seen from the high [Ba/Y]. Furthermore, we present evidence for an s-process contribution to Eu.

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arXiv2010

An investigation of chromospheric activity spanning the Vaughan--Preston gap: impact on stellar ages

Chromospheric activity is widely used as an age indicator for solar-type stars based on the early evidence that there is a smooth evolution from young and active to old and inactive stars. We analysed chromospheric activity in five solar-type stars in two open clusters, in order to study how chromospheric activity evolves with time. We took UVES high-resolution, high S/N ratio spectra of 3 stars in IC 4756 and 2 in NGC 5822, which were combined with a previously studied data-set and reanalysed here. The emission core of the deep, photospheric Ca II K line was used as a probe of the chromospheric activity. All of the 5 stars in the new sample, including those in the 1.2 Gyr-old NGC 5822, have activity levels comparable to those of Hyades and Praesepe. A likely interpretation of our data is that solar-type-star chromospheric activity, from the age of the Hyades until that of the Sun, does not evolve smoothly. Stars change from active to inactive on a short timescale. Evolution before and after such a transition is much less significant than cyclical and long-term variations. We show that data presented in the literature to support a correlation between age and activity could be also interpreted differently in the light of our results.

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arXiv2010

On the stellar content of the Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present U,B,V,I photometry of the Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxy, based on more than 4,000 CCD images. Special attention was given to the photometric calibration, and the precision for the B,V,I bands is better than 0.01 mag. We compared in the V,B-V and V,B-I color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) Carina with three Globular Clusters (GCs, M53, M55, M79). We find that only the more metal-poor GCs (M55, [Fe/H]=-1.85; M53, [Fe/H]=-2.02 dex) provide a good match with the Carina giant branch. We performed a similar comparison in the V,V-I CMD with three SMC intermediate-age clusters (IACs, Kron3, NGC339, Lindsay38). We find that the color extent of the SGB of the two more metal-rich IACs (Kron3, [Fe/H]=-1.08; NGC339, [Fe/H]=-1.36 dex) is smaller than the range among Carina's intermediate-age stars. However, the ridge line of the more metal-poor IAC (Lindsay38, [Fe/H]=-1.59 dex) agrees quite well with the Carina intermediate-age stars. These findings indicate that Carina's old stellar population is metal-poor and seems to have a limited spread in metallicity (Delta [Fe/H]=0.2--0.3 dex). Carina intermediate-age stars can hardly be more metal-rich than Lindsay38 and its spread in metallicity appears modest. We also find that the synthetic CMD constructed assuming a metallicity spread of 0.5 dex for intermediate-age stars predicts evolutionary features not supported by observations. The above results are at odds with recent spectroscopic investigations suggesting that Carina stars cover a broad range in metallicity (Delta [Fe/H]~1--2 dex). We present a new method to estimate the metallicity of complex stellar systems using the difference in color between the red clump and the middle of the RR Lyrae instability strip. The observed colors of Carina's evolved stars indicate a metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.70+-0.19 dex, which agrees quite well with spectroscopic measurements.

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arXiv2010

New Baade-Wesselink distances and radii for four metal-rich Galactic Cepheids

We provided accurate estimates of distances, radii and iron abundances for four metal-rich Cepheids, namely V340 Ara, UZ Sct, AV Sgr and VY Sgr. The main aim of this investigation is to constrain their pulsation properties and their location across the Galactic inner disk. We adopted new accurate NIR (J,H,K) light curves and new radial velocity measurements for the target Cepheids to determinate their distances and radii using the Baade-Wesselink technique. In particular, we adopted the most recent calibration of the IR surface brightness relation and of the projection factor. Moreover, we also provided accurate measurements of the iron abundance of the target Cepheids. Current distance estimates agree within one sigma with similar distances based either on empirical or on theoretical NIR Period-Luminosity relations. However, the uncertainties of the Baade-Wesselink distances are on average a factor of 3-4 smaller when compared with errors affecting other distance determinations. Mean Baade-Wesselink radii also agree at one sigma level with Cepheid radii based either on empirical or on theoretical Period-Radius relations. Iron abundances are, within one sigma, similar to the iron contents provided by Andrievsky and collaborators, thus confirming the super metal-rich nature of the target Cepheids. We also found that the luminosity amplitudes of classical Cepheids, at odds with RR Lyrae stars, do not show a clear correlation with the metal-content. This circumstantial evidence appears to be the consequence of the Hertzsprung progression together with the dependence of the topology of the instability strip on metallicity, evolutionary effects and binaries.

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arXiv2010

Abundances and physical parameters for stars in the open clusters NGC 5822 and IC 4756

Classical chemical analyses may be affected by systematic errors that would cause observed abundance differences between dwarfs and giants. For some elements, however, the abundance difference could be real. We address the issue by observing 2 solar--type dwarfs in NGC 5822 and 3 in IC 4756, and comparing their composition with that of 3 giants in either of the aforementioned clusters. We determine iron abundance and stellar parameters of the dwarf stars, and the abundances of calcium, sodium, nickel, titanium, aluminium, chromium, silicon and oxygen for both the giants and dwarfs. We acquired UVES high-resolution, of high signal--to--noise ratio (S/N) spectra. The width of the cross correlation profiles was used to measure rotation velocities. For abundance determinations, the standard equivalent width analysis was performed differentially with respect to the Sun. For lithium and oxygen, we derived abundances by comparing synthetic spectra with observed line features. We find an iron abundance for dwarf stars equal to solar to within the margins of error for IC 4756, and slightly above for NGC 5822 ([Fe/H]= 0.01 and 0.05 dex respectively). The 3 stars in NG 4756 have lithium abundances between Log N(Li) 2.6 and 2.8 dex, the two stars in NGC 5822 have Log N(Li) ~ 2.8 and 2.5, respectively. For sodium, silicon, and titanium, we show that abundances of giants are significantly higher than those of the dwarfs of the same cluster (about 0.15, 0.15, and 0.35 dex).

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