Calcium abundances in giant stars of the globular clusters M3, M13, M15, and M92

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/112689· OSTI ID:5364440

Suntzeff, N B

The average calcium II H and K line strengths of giant stars in M3, M13, M15, and M92 are found to be closely correlated with the (Fe/H) of the cluster. Simple physical arguments are provided to show the observed average line strengths reproduce the difference in (Fe/H) between the clusters. The observed dispersion in H and K line strengths yields an upper limit of 0.15 dex for M15 and M92, and 0.11 dex for M3+M13 for the average intracluster variation of (Ca/H), provided (Ca/H)=Fe/H). The dispersions drop to half these values if the calcium abundance varies independently of the iron peak abundances.

• Research Organization: Lick Observatory, Board of Studies in Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064
• OSTI ID: 5364440
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Vol. 85:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CALCIUM IONS
COSMOCHEMISTRY
GIANT STARS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
STAR CLUSTERS
ABUNDANCE
BALMER LINES
IRON
ATOMIC IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
IONS
METALS
STARS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources