Published July 1, 2013 | Version v1
Journal article

A DYNAMICAL SIGNATURE OF MULTIPLE STELLAR POPULATIONS IN 47 TUCANAE

  • 1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 (Canada)
  • 2. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
  • 3. Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 (United States)
  • 4. Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University, Weston, ACT 2611 (Australia)
  • 5. National Research Council, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, Victoria, BC V9E 2E7 (Canada)
  • 6. Division of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (United States)

Description

Based on the width of its main sequence, and an actual observed split when viewed through particular filters, it is widely accepted that 47 Tucanae contains multiple stellar populations. In this contribution, we divide the main sequence of 47 Tuc into four color groups, which presumably represent stars of various chemical compositions. The kinematic properties of each of these groups are explored via proper motions, and a strong signal emerges of differing proper-motion anisotropies with differing main-sequence color; the bluest main-sequence stars exhibit the largest proper-motion anisotropy which becomes undetectable for the reddest stars. In addition, the bluest stars are also the most centrally concentrated. A similar analysis for Small Magellanic Cloud stars, which are located in the background of 47 Tuc on our frames, yields none of the anisotropy exhibited by the 47 Tuc stars. We discuss implications of these results for possible formation scenarios of the various populations.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/771/1/L15

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
771
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[5 p.]
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
44075349
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ANISOTROPY; ASTRONOMY; ASTROPHYSICS; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; HERTZSPRUNG-RUSSELL DIAGRAM; MAGELLANIC CLOUDS; MAIN SEQUENCE STARS; OPTICAL FILTERS; PROPER MOTION; RED GIANT STARS
Descriptors DEC
DIAGRAMS; FILTERS; GALAXIES; GIANT STARS; INFORMATION; MOTION; PHYSICS; STARS