A LARGE C+N+O ABUNDANCE SPREAD IN GIANT STARS OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 1851

Journal Article · Fri Apr 10 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/695/1/L62; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)· OSTI ID:21296279

Yong, David; Karakas, Amanda I; Norris, John E ^[1]; Grundahl, Frank ^[2]; D'Antona, Francesca ^[3]

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1. Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University, Weston, ACT 2611 (Australia)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University (Denmark)
3. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via Frascati 33, 00040 Monteporzio (Italy)

Abundances of C, N, and O are determined in four bright red giants that span the known abundance range for light (Na and Al) and s-process (Zr and La) elements in the globular cluster NGC 1851. The abundance sum C+N+O exhibits a range of 0.6 dex, a factor of 4, in contrast to other clusters in which no significant C+N+O spread is found. Such an abundance range offers support for the Cassisi et al. scenario in which the double subgiant branch populations are coeval but with different mixtures of C+N+O abundances. Further, the Na, Al, Zr, and La abundances are correlated with C+N+O, and therefore NGC 1851 is the first cluster to provide strong support for the scenario in which asymptotic giant branch stars are responsible for the globular cluster light element abundance variations.

• OSTI ID: 21296279
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal (Online), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal (Online) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 695; ISSN 1538-4357
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ALUMINIUM
ASYMPTOTIC SOLUTIONS
CARBON
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
GALAXIES
GIANT STARS
LANTHANUM
MIXTURES
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
S PROCESS
SODIUM
ZIRCONIUM