arXiv subjects

S. Lucatello

Publications and source records attributed to S. Lucatello.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The internal kinematics and chemistry of 20 Milky Way strings

Context: the recent discovery of filamentary stellar structures in the Milky Way disk raises the question of their formation in the context of the Galaxy evolution. Aims: in this work, we aim to kinematically and chemically characterize several filamentary stellar structures by looking for clues about their origin and formation mechanism. Methods: recent works using machine-learning techniques and $Gaia$ data have identified many previously unknown Galactic strings. We cross-matched such data with the kinematics derived from the most recent Gaia DR3 catalog as well as chemical data provided by the Galactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey. Results: we found that most strings contain one or more open clusters and are kinematically hotter than open clusters (with internal velocity dispersions in the 1--7 km/s range) but cooler than field stars. 18 objects appear chemically homogeneous ($\sigma_{[Fe/H]}$ <= 0.1 dex), while two strings have a broad [Fe/H] distribution similar to the field stars but exhibit a different mean metallicity, which may identify them as migrating stellar structures. For seven objects the GALAH observations focus on the embedded open clusters; therefore, the chemical abundances are not representative of the whole structure. An object shows clues of chemical gradients along its extension in Galactic longitude. Conclusions: these objects may be evaporating or disrupted open clusters in which the chemical homogeneity is preserved in an unbound and expanding cloud of stars or co-moving stars belonging to a former and now disrupting star formation hub. In a few cases they appear to be moving groups with no chemical homogeneity, likely formed by the dynamical action of the Galactic bar or spiral arms. More data are needed to confirm such hypotheses.

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arXiv2026

Intrinsic iron abundance spreads in globular clusters

Globular Clusters (GCs) host multiple stellar populations, likely composed of a subset of FG stars that enriched the intracluster medium and gave rise to SG stars, each characterised by distinctive chemical patterns. These patterns typically include enhancements in elements such as N, Na, and Al, coupled with depletions in C, O, and Mg in SG stars. Traditionally, heavier elements such as those in the Fe-peak were considered unaffected in most GCs. However, recent studies have reported significant internal spreads in these elements, suggesting a more complex picture of chemical enrichment within GCs. This study seeks to derive precise and homogeneous differential iron abundances in a large sample of GCs. By doing so, our aim is to investigate the presence of intrinsic iron spreads within them and to assess the existence of differences in Fe between their stellar populations. We used the Python-based tool Q2 to determine both differential stellar parameters and iron abundances for 92 sibling stars, defined by the similarities in their stellar parameters, across 13 Galactic GCs. This differential approach reduces the influence of non-LTE effects, and minimises observational errors, and systematic biases linked to stellar parameters. We performed Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the statistical significance of the measured spreads. Most of the GCs in our sample do not show evidence of statistically significant Fe spreads. Only a few exceptions emerge, namely NGC1851, NGC3201, and NGC5634, which display a highly significant iron spread. In particular, NGC3201 shows a particularly pronounced spread in its FG population, reflecting a potential inhomogeneous iron abundance in its pristine material. Finally, through statistical tests, we conclude that our data do not support the presence of a widespread iron variation in GCs.

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arXiv2026

The open cluster NGC 2509. Stellar rotation and main sequence turnoff extension from FLAMES spectroscopy

NGC 2509 is a distant (~2.5 kpc) and little-studied open cluster located in the third Galactic quadrant. It is a moderately old cluster, whose age has not yet been precisely determined. The main-sequence stars in NGC 2509 follow a narrow distribution in the color-magnitude diagram, unlike other clusters of similar age. In addition, its chemical composition has never been investigated. To address these issues and characterize the cluster we performed moderate- and high-resolution spectroscopy with FLAMES@VLT of 132 stars, both dwarfs and giants, which represents a significant fraction (~73%) of likely members. We provide atmospheric stellar parameters and, for the first time, chemical abundances for 21 species with atomic numbers up to 60. In our analysis we followed two different methodologies, both of which will be used for the incoming WEAVE stellar surveys. We find an average radial velocity for NGC 2509 of 58.6+-1.3 km\s and a mild supersolar metallicity ([Fe/H]~0.1 dex). This value is slightly higher than expected according to its galactocentric distance, but still compatible with the Galactic gradient. From the lithium content of the dwarfs and the isochrone-fitting method we obtain an age for NGC 2509 of 1.26+-0.3 Gyr. The reddening across the cluster field is negligible (A_V=0.25+-0.02 mag). The cluster peculiar main sequence turnoff is due to a narrow distribution of the rotational velocities peaking at vsini~80 km/s, with little dispersion. The chemical pattern of NGC 2509 follows the Galactic trends shown by other open clusters in the Galactic thin disk.

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arXiv2025

Tracing the Early Milky Way with Globular Clusters: The Diagnostic Power of Neutron-Capture Elements

Globular clusters (GCs) are fundamental tracers of the early assembly of the Milky Way (MW). They formed in diverse environments -- including both our Galaxy and dwarf galaxies -- retaining chemical and dynamical signatures that encode their origins and the merger history of the Galaxy. Although significant progress has been made in characterising GC chemistry, most studies have focused on light, $\alpha$-, and iron-peak elements. In contrast, neutron-capture (n-capture) elements remain sparsely investigated across the GC system, despite their unique ability to trace nucleosynthetic channels and star-formation timescales. A homogeneous and statistically robust mapping of n-process elements in a large sample of GCs would provide powerful constraints on their formation environments, chemical signatures of in situ and accreted systems, and refine our understanding of the early chemical evolution of the MW halo. Addressing this gap requires high-resolution, multiplexing, and blue-sensitive spectroscopy capable of accessing the full suite of n-capture diagnostics in several tens of stars per GC.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Stellar Population Astrophysics (SPA) with the TNG: NLTE atmospheric parameters and abundances of giant stars in 33 Open Clusters

Open clusters serve as important tools for accurately studying the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. By combining precise chemical data from high-resolution spectra with information on their distances and ages, we can effectively uncover the processes that have shaped our Galaxy. This study aims to derive NLTE atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances for approximately one hundred giant stars across 33 open clusters with near-solar metallicity. The clusters span a wide range of ages, enabling an assessment of the presence and extent of any age-related abundance gradients. In the Stellar Population Astrophysics (SPA) project, we acquired new high-resolution spectra of open clusters using the HARPS-N echelle spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. We chemically characterized nine open clusters for the first time and reanalyzed previously studied SPA clusters, resulting in a consistent and homogeneous sample. We determined NLTE atmospheric parameters using the equivalent width method and derived NLTE chemical abundances through spectral synthesis for various elements, including alpha elements (Mg, Si, and Ti), light odd-Z elements (Na, Al), iron-peak elements (Mn, Co, and Ni), and neutron-capture elements (Sr, Y, and Eu). Our findings are compared with the existing literature, revealing good agreement. We examine the trends of [X/Fe] versus age, confirming previous observations and the enrichment patterns predicted by nucleosynthesis processes. Positive correlations with age are present for Mg, Si, Ti, Al, Mn, Co, Ni, and Sr, while Na and Y and Eu show a negative trend. This study emphasizes the significance of NLTE corrections and reinforces the utility of open clusters as tracers of Galactic chemical evolution. Furthermore, we provide a benchmark sample of NLTE abundances for upcoming open cluster surveys within large-scale projects such as 4MOST and WEAVE.

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arXiv2025

Neutron-Capture Element Signatures in Globular Clusters: Insights from the Gaia-ESO Survey

Globular clusters (GCs) are key to understanding the formation and evolution of our Galaxy. While the abundances of light and Fe-peak elements in GCs have been widely studied, investigations into heavier, neutron-capture elements -- and their connection to multiple stellar populations and GC origins -- remain limited. In this work, we analysed the chemical abundances of neutron-capture elements in GCs to trace the Galactic halo and to explore possible links to the MP phenomenon. Our goal is to better constrain the nature of the polluters responsible for intracluster enrichment and to distinguish the origin of GCs through the chemical signature of neutron-capture elements. We examined 14 GCs from the Gaia-ESO Survey, spanning a wide metallicity range, [Fe/H] from -0.40 to -2.32, using a homogeneous methodology. We focused on the abundances of Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Pr, and Eu, derived from FLAMES-UVES spectra. These were compared with predictions from a stochastic Galactic chemical evolution model. With the exception of Zr, the model broadly reproduces the observed trends in neutron-capture elements. In some GCs, we found strong correlations between hot H-burning products (Na, Al) and s-process elements, pointing to a shared nucleosynthesis site, e.g., asymptotic giant branch stars of different masses and/or fast-rotating massive stars. We also detect a distinct difference in [Eu/Mg] ratio between in-situ ($\langle$[Eu/Mg]$\rangle$ = 0.14 dex) and ex-situ ($\langle$[Eu/Mg]$\langle$ = 0.32 dex) GCs, highlighting their different enrichment histories. Finally, on average, Type II GCs (NGC 362, NGC 1261, and NGC 1851) showed a s-process element spread ratio between second- and first-generations about twice as large as those seen in Type I clusters.

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arXiv2024

When LAMOST meets Gaia DR3 Exploring the metallicity of open clusters

Context. Open clusters (OCs) are valuable probes of stellar population characteristics. Their age and metallicity provide insights into the chemical enrichment history of the Milky Way. By studying the metallicity of OCs, we can explore the spatial distribution of composition across the Galaxy and understand stellar birth radii through chemical tagging. However, inferring the original positions of OCs remains a challenge. Aims. This study investigates the distribution of metallicity in the solar neighborhood using data from Gaia DR3 and LAMOST spectra. By measuring accurate ages and metallicities, we aim to derive birth radii and understand stellar migration patterns. Methods. We selected 1131 OCs within 3 kpc of the Sun from Gaia DR3 and LAMOST DR8 low-resolution spectra (R=1800). To correct the LAMOST data, we incorporated high-resolution spectra from GALAH DR3 (R=28000) using an artificial neural network. The average metallicity of the OCs was derived from reliable [Fe/H] values of their members. We examined the metallicity distribution across the Galaxy and calculated birth radii based on age and metallicity. Results. The correction method reduces the systematic offset in LAMOST data. We found a metallicity gradient as a function of Galactocentric distance and guiding radii. Comparisons with chemo-dynamic simulations show that observed metallicity values are slightly lower than predicted when uncertainties are ignored, but the metallicity gradients align with previous studies. We also inferred that many OCs near the Sun likely originated from the outer Galactic disk.

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arXiv2024

The Radcliffe Wave as traced by young open clusters: Stellar parameters, activity indicators, and abundances of solar-type members of eight young clusters

The Radcliffe Wave has only recently been recognised as a about 3 kpc long coherent gas structure encompassing most of the star forming regions in the solar vicinity. Since its discovery, it has been mainly studied from the perspective of dynamics, but a detailed chemical study is necessary to understand its nature and the composition of the natal clouds that gave rise to it. In this paper we used some of the connected young open clusters (age $\lesssim$ 100 Myr) as tracers of the molecular clouds. We performed high-resolution spectroscopy with GIARPS at the TNG of 53 stars that are bona fide members of seven clusters located at different positions along the Radcliffe Wave. We provide radial velocities and atmospheric parameters for all of them. For a subsample consisting of 41 FGK stars we also studied the chromospheric activity and the content of Li, from which we inferred the age of the parent clusters. These values agree with the evolutionary ages reported in the literature. For these FGK stars we determined the chemical abundances for 25 species. Pleiades, ASCC 16 and NGC 7058 exhibit a solar metallicity while Melotte 20, ASCC 19, NGC 2232, and Roslund 6 show a slightly subsolar value ($\approx-$0.1 dex). On average, the clusters show a chemical composition compatible with that of the Sun, especially for $\alpha$- and Fe-peak elements. Neutron-capture elements, on the other hand, present a slight overabundance of about 0.2 dex, specially barium. Finally, considering also ASCC 123, studied by our group in a previous research, we infer a correlation between the chemical composition and the age or position of the clusters along the Wave, demonstrating their physical connection within an inhomogeneous mixing scenario.

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arXiv2024

Heavy element abundances in Galactic Globular Clusters

Context. Globular clusters are considered key objects for understanding the formation and evolution of the Milky Way. In this sense, their characterisation in terms of their chemical and orbital parameters can provide constraints to the chemical evolution models of the Galaxy. Aims. We use the heavy element abundances of globular clusters to trace their overall behaviour in the Galaxy, aiming to analyse potential relations between the hot H-burning and s-process elements. Methods. We measured the content of Cu I and s- and r-process elements (Y II, Ba II, La II, and Eu II) in a sample of 210 giant stars in 18 Galactic Globular Clusters from high-quality UVES spectra. The clusters span a large metallicity range, and the sample is the largest uniformly analysed for what concerns heavy elements in Globular Clusters. Results. Cu abundances did not show considerable spread in the sample nor correlation with Na, meaning that the Na nucleosynthesis process does not affect the Cu abundance. Most GCs closely follow the Cu, Y, Ba, La, and Eu field stars' distribution, revealing a similar chemical evolution. The Y abundances in mid-metallicity regime GCs (-1.10 dex <[Fe/H]<-1.80 dex) display a mildly significant correlation with the Na abundance, which should be further investigated. Finally, we did not find any significant difference between the n-capture abundances among GCs with Galactic and extragalactic origin.

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arXiv2023

High-resolution spectroscopy of the young open cluster M 39 (NGC 7092)

M 39 is a nearby young open cluster hardly studied in the last decades. No giant is known among its members and its chemical composition has never been studied. In order to investigate it we performed high-resolution spectroscopy of 20 expected cluster members with the HARPS and FIES spectrographs. By combining our observations with archival photometry and $Gaia$-DR3 data we searched for evolved members and studied cluster properties such as the radial velocity, extinction and age. For the first time, we provide stellar parameters and chemical abundances for 21 species with atomic numbers up to 56. We have not found any new giant as likely member and notice a negligible reddening along the cluster field, that we place at 300 pc. We obtain a mean radial velocity for M 39 of -5.5$\pm$0.5 km s$^{-1}$ and an isochrone-fitting age of 430$\pm$110 Ma, which corresponds to a MSTO mass of around 2.8 Msol. This value is consistent with the Li content and chromospheric activity shown by its members. Based on main-sequence stars the cluster exhibits a solar composition, [Fe/H]=+0.04$\pm$0.08 dex, compatible with its Galactocentric location. However, it has a slightly subsolar abundance of Na and an enriched content of neutron-capture elements, specially Ba. In any case, the chemical composition of M 39 is fully compatible with that shown by other open clusters that populate the Galactic thin disc

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arXiv2023

Beyond Gaia DR3: Tracing the [$α$/M]-[M/H] bimodality from the inner to the outer Milky Way disc with Gaia-RVS and convolutional neural networks

In June 2022, Gaia DR3 has provided the astronomy community with about one million spectra from the Radial Velocity Spectrometer (RVS) covering the CaII triplet region. However, one-third of the published spectra have 15<S/N<25 per pixel such that they pose problems for classical spectral analysis pipelines, and therefore, alternative ways to tap into these large datasets need to be devised. We aim to leverage the versatility and capabilities of machine learning techniques for supercharged stellar parametrisation by combining Gaia-RVS spectra with the full set of Gaia products and high-resolution, high-quality ground-based spectroscopic reference datasets. We developed a hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN) that combines the Gaia DR3 RVS spectra, photometry (G, G_BP, G_RP), parallaxes, and XP coefficients to derive atmospheric parameters (Teff, log(g) as well as overall [M/H]) and chemical abundances ([Fe/H] and [α/M]). We trained the CNN with a high-quality training sample based on APOGEE DR17 labels. With this CNN, we derived homogeneous atmospheric parameters and abundances for 886080 RVS stars that show remarkable precision and accuracy compared to external datasets (such as GALAH and asteroseismology). The CNN is robust against noise in the RVS data, and we derive very precise labels down to S/N=15. We managed to characterise the [α/M]-[M/H] bimodality from the inner regions to the outer parts of the Milky Way, which has never been done using RVS spectra or similar datasets. This work is the first to combine machine learning with such diverse datasets and paves the way for large-scale machine learning analysis of Gaia-RVS spectra from future data releases. Large, high-quality datasets can be optimally combined thanks to the CNN, thereby realising the full power of spectroscopy, astrometry, and photometry.

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arXiv2023

Parameter Estimation for Open Clusters using an Artificial Neural Network with a QuadTree-based Feature Extractor

With the unprecedented increase of known star clusters, quick and modern tools are needed for their analysis. In this work, we develop an artificial neural network trained on synthetic clusters to estimate the age, metallicity, extinction, and distance of $Gaia$ open clusters. We implement a novel technique to extract features from the colour-magnitude diagram of clusters by means of the QuadTree tool and we adopt a multi-band approach. We obtain reliable parameters for $\sim 5400$ clusters. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our methodology in accurately determining crucial parameters of $Gaia$ open clusters by performing a comprehensive scientific validation. In particular, with our analysis we have been able to reproduce the Galactic metallicity gradient as it is observed by high-resolution spectroscopic surveys. This demonstrates that our method reliably extracts information on metallicity from colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of stellar clusters. For the sample of clusters studied, we find an intriguing systematic older age compared to previous analyses present in the literature. This work introduces a novel approach to feature extraction using a QuadTree algorithm, effectively tracing sequences in CMDs despite photometric errors and outliers. The adoption of ANNs, rather than Convolutional Neural Networks, maintains the full positional information and improves performance, while also demonstrating the potential for deriving clusters' parameters from simultaneous analysis of multiple photometric bands, beneficial for upcoming telescopes like the Vera Rubin Observatory. The implementation of ANN tools with robust isochrone fit techniques could provide further improvements in the quest for open clusters' parameters.

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arXiv2023

Neutron-capture elements in NGC 6752 multiple populations

Globular clusters have been widely studied in terms of light element variations present in their different stellar populations. However, the nature of the polluter(s) responsible for this phenomenon is still debated. The study of heavy elements and their relation to light ones can provide further constraints. In particular, we aim to explore the possible contribution of asymptotic giant branch stars of different stellar masses to the internal pollution in the cluster. We derive abundances of elements from different nucleosynthetic chains, such as Na, Mg, Ca, Sc, Cu, Y, and Ba. We did not find clear relations between the light s-process elements (represented by Y II) or heavy ones (represented by Ba II) with light elements (Li, Na or Al). This indicates that the polluter(s) responsible for the Na (Al) or Li production does not produce large amounts of Y II and Ba II. Furthermore, the comparison with models discards a possible significant contribution to the cluster pollution from AGB stars with masses lower than 5M$_{\odot}$. In addition, we found a potential CH-star in our sample.

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arXiv2022

Stellar Population Astrophysics (SPA) with the TNG. alpha-elements, lithium, sodium and aluminum in 16 open clusters

Exploring the Galactic chemical evolution and enrichment scenarios with open clusters allows us to understand the history of the Milky Way disk. High-resolution spectra of OCs are a crucial tool, as they provide precise chemical information, to combine with precise distances and ages. The aim of the Stellar Population Astrophysics project is to derive homogeneous and accurate comprehensive chemical characterization of a number of poorly studied OCs.Using the HARPS-N echelle spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, we obtained high-resolution spectra of giant stars in 18 OCs, 16 of which are chemically characterized for the first time, and two of which are well studied for comparison. The OCs in this sample have ages from a few tens of Myr to 4 Gyr, with a prevalence of young clusters. We already presented the radial velocities and atmospheric parameters for them in a previous SPA paper. Here, we present results for the alpha-elements O, and the light elements, all determined by the equivalent width method. We also measured Li abundance through the synthesis method.We discuss the behaviors of lithium, sodium and aluminum in the context of stellar evolution. We study the radial, vertical, and age trends for the measured abundance ratios in a sample that combines our results and recent literature for OCs, finding significant gradients only for [Mg/Fe] and [Ca/Fe] in all cases. Finally,we compare O and Mg in the combined sample with chemo-dynamical models, finding a good agreement for intermediate-age and old clusters. There is a sharp increase in the abundance ratios measured among very young clusters, accompanied by a poorer fit with the models for O and Mg, likely related to the inadequacy of traditional model atmospheres and methods in the derivation of atmospheric parameters and abundance ratios for stars of such young ages

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arXiv2022

One Star to Tag Them All (OSTTA): I. Radial velocities and chemical abundances for 20 poorly studied open clusters

Context: Open clusters are ideal laboratories to investigate a variety of astrophysical topics, from the properties of the Galactic disc to stellar evolution models. For this purpose, we need to know their chemical composition in detail. Unfortunately, the number of systems with chemical abundances determined from high resolution spectroscopy remains small. Aims: Our aim is to increase the number of open clusters with radial velocities and chemical abundances determined from high resolution spectroscopy by sampling a few stars in clusters not studied previously. Methods: We obtained high resolution spectra with the FIES spectrograph at NOT for 41 stars belonging to 20 open clusters. These stars have high astrometric membership probabilities, determined from the Gaia second data release. Results: We derived radial velocities for all the observed stars, which were used to confirm their membership to the corresponding clusters. For Gulliver\,37 we cannot be sure the observed star is a real member. We derived atmospheric parameters for the 32 stars considered real cluster members. We discarded five stars because they have very low gravity or atmospheric parameters were not properly constrained due to low signal-to-noise ratio spectra. Therefore, detailed chemical abundances were determined for 28 stars belonging to 17 clusters. For most of them, this is the first chemical analysis available in the literature. Finally, we compared the clusters in our sample to a large population of well studied clusters. The studied systems follow the trends, both chemical and kinematical, described by the majority of open clusters. Worth noticing that the three most metal-poor studied clusters (NGC\,1027, NGC\,1750 and Trumpler 2) are enhanced in Si but not in the other alpha-elements studied (Mg, Ca and Ti).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

MUSE spectroscopic observations of the Young Massive Cluster NGC1850

NGC1850 is the nearest Young Massive Cluster of the Local Group with a mass similar to those of Galactic globular clusters. Recent studies have revealed an extended morphology of its MSTO, which can be interpreted as a spread in either age or internal rotation. An accurate spectroscopic determination of its chemical properties is still missing. We analyse spectra obtained with MUSE in adaptive optics mode of 1167 stars in both components of this cluster (NGC1850A and NGC1850B). Thanks to this dataset, we measure an average metallicity of <[M/H]>=-0.31 +/- 0.01, a mean Ba abundance of <[Ba/Fe]>=+0.40 +/- 0.02 and a systemic radial velocity of =251.1 +/- 0.3 km/s. The dispersion of the radial velocities suggests a dynamical mass of log(M/Ms)=4.84 +/- 0.1, while no significant systemic rotation is detected. We detect a significant bimodality in OI line strength among the TO stars of NGC1850A with ~66% of stars with [O/Fe]~-0.16 and the rest with no detectable line. The majority of O-weak stars populate preferentially the red side of the MSTO and show H lines in emission, suggesting that they are Be stars rotating close to their critical velocity. Among normal MSTO stars, red stars have on average broader line profiles than blue ones, suggesting a correlation between colour and rotational velocity. The mean metallicity of this cluster lies at the metal-rich side of the metallicity distribution of the LMC following its age-metallicity relation. The Ba and O abundances agree with those measured in the bar of this galaxy. The observed spread in OI line width among its MS stars can be interpreted as an effect of rotational mixing occurring in the envelopes of O-weak stars. The correlation between line broadening and colour suggests that the observed colour spread among turn-off stars can be due to a wide range in rotational velocity covered by these stars.

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arXiv2022

Monte Carlo simulations of multiple populations in globular clusters: constraints on the initial size of the second generation from binary stars

We present the result of a survey of Monte Carlo simulations of globular clusters hosting two generations of stars including a large (f_b=50%) fraction of primordial binaries in both populations. The dynamical evolution of the two stellar populations is followed for a Hubble time taking into account the effect of the tidal field, two-body relaxation, stellar evolution and three/four-bodies interactions. The fraction of surviving binaries, once accounted for the observational bias and uncertainties, is compared with the available radial velocity time-series performed in real globular clusters, and it is used to constrain the initial spatial concentration of the second generation. The fraction of second generation binaries appears to depend only on the ratio between the total cluster mass and the initial size of the second generation which determines the average velocity dispersion across the extent of this stellar population. In spite of the various uncertainties, we find that the observed fraction can be obtained only assuming a strong initial concentration of the second generation (r_h,S~ 0.1 (M/10^6 M_s) pc). The evolution of the first generation binary fraction is more sensitive to the tidal field strength (with a non negligible effect of the cluster orbital eccentricity) since the tidal field has a direct impact on the first generation structural properties.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Lithium abundances as a tracer of AGB stars pollution in the globular cluster NGC 6752

This paper presents the chemical abundance analysis of 217 stars in the metal-poor globular cluster NGC 6752, distributed from the turn-off to the lower red giant branch. Aluminium and Lithium abundances were derived through spectral synthesis applied to spectra collected with FLAMES, both in GIRAFFE and UVES modes. The work aims to gain insight into the nature of the polluter(s) responsible for the abundance variations and C-N, Na-O, Al-Mg anti-correlations associated with the multiple population phenomenon. We found a plateau at A(Li)=2.33$\pm$0.06 dex in unevolved stars, with the average Li content decreasing continuously down to $\sim$1.25 dex at the bottom of the red giant branch. As expected in the classic anti-correlation scenario, we found stars low in Al and high Li abundance and stars high in Al and low in Li. However, in addition, we also found evidence of Al-rich, second-generation stars with high Li content. This finding suggests the need for Li production, known to happen in intermediate-mass ($\sim$4-8M$_{sun}$) AGB stars through the Cameron-Fowler mechanism. It is worth noticing that the Li abundance observed in Al-rich stars never exceeds that in Al-poor stars.

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