Published February 10, 2013 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

STAR-TO-STAR IRON ABUNDANCE VARIATIONS IN RED GIANT BRANCH STARS IN THE GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 3201

Creators

  • 1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (United States)
  • 2. Paris-Meudon Observatory, France and Université de Picardie Jules Verne, F-80080 Amiens (France)
  • 3. Geneva Observatory, University of Geneva, Chemin des Maillettes 51, CH-1290 Versoix (Switzerland)
  • 4. Laboratoire Hippolyte Fizeau, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Parc Valrose, F-06000 Nice (France)
  • 5. European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, D-85748 Garching bei Munchen (Germany)

Description

We present the metallicity as traced by the abundance of iron in the retrograde globular cluster NGC 3201, measured from high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of 24 red giant branch stars. A spectroscopic analysis reveals a spread in [Fe/H] in the cluster stars at least as large as 0.4 dex. Star-to-star metallicity variations are supported both through photometry and through a detailed examination of spectra. We find no correlation between iron abundance and distance from the cluster core, as might be inferred from recent photometric studies. NGC 3201 is the lowest mass halo cluster to date to contain stars with significantly different [Fe/H] values.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/764/1/L7

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/2041-8205/764/1/L7;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
764
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[6 p.]
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
44086043
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ABUNDANCE; CORRELATIONS; EVOLUTION; GALAXIES; IRON; MASS; NOISE; PHOTOMETRY; RED GIANT STARS; RESOLUTION; SPECTRA; STAR CLUSTERS; STARS; VARIATIONS
Descriptors DEC
ELEMENTS; GIANT STARS; METALS; STARS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS