FORS2/VLT survey of Milky Way globular clusters. I. Description of the method for derivation of metal abundances in the optical and application to NGC 6528, NGC 6553, M 71, NGC 6558, NGC 6426, and Terzan 8
Journal
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Dias, B.
•
Barbuy, B.
•
Saviane, I.
•
•
Da Costa, G. S.
•
Ortolani, S.
•
Vasquez, S.
•
•
Katz, D.
Description
We are grateful to Paula Coelho for useful discussions. B.D. acknowledges financial support from CNPq and ESO. B.B. acknowledges partial financial support from CNPq and Fapesp.
Abstract
Context. We have observed almost one third of the globular clusters in the Milky Way, targeting distant and/or highly reddened objects, as well as a few reference clusters. A large sample of red giant stars was observed with FORS2 at VLT/ESO at R ~ 2000. The method for deriving stellar parameters is presented with application to six reference clusters.
Aims: We aim at deriving the stellar parameters effective temperature, gravity, metallicity, and alpha-element enhancement as well as the radial velocity to confirm the membership of individual stars in each cluster. We analyse the spectra collected for the reference globular clusters NGC 6528 ([Fe/H] ~-0.1), NGC 6553 ([Fe/H] ~-0.2), M 71 ([Fe/H] ~-0.8), NGC 6558 ([Fe/H] ~-1.0), NGC 6426 ([Fe/H] ~-2.1), and Terzan 8 ([Fe/H] ~-2.2). They cover the full range of globular cluster metallicities, and are located in the bulge, disc, and halo.
Methods: Full spectrum-fitting techniques were applied by comparing each target spectrum with a stellar library in the optical region at 4560-5860 Å. We employed the library of observed spectra MILES, and the Coelho synthetic library. We validated the method by recovering the known atmospheric parameters for 49 well-studied stars that cover a wide range in the parameter space. We adopted as final stellar parameters (effective temperatures, gravities, metallicities) the average of results using the observed and synthetic spectral libraries.
Results: We identified 4 member stars in NGC 6528, 13 in NGC 6553, 10 in M 71, 5 in NGC 6558, 5 in NGC 6426, and 12 in Terzan 8. Radial velocities, Teff, log(g), [Fe/H], and alpha-element enhancements were derived. We derived ⟨ vhelio ⟩ = -242 ± 11 km s-1, [Fe/H] = - 2.39 ± 0.04, [Mg/Fe] = 0.38 ± 0.06 for NGC 6426 from spectroscopy for the first time.
Conclusions: The method proved to be reliable for red giant stars observed with resolution R ~ 2000, yielding results compatible with high-resolution spectroscopy. The derived α-element abundances show [α/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] consistent with that of field stars at the same metallicities.
Aims: We aim at deriving the stellar parameters effective temperature, gravity, metallicity, and alpha-element enhancement as well as the radial velocity to confirm the membership of individual stars in each cluster. We analyse the spectra collected for the reference globular clusters NGC 6528 ([Fe/H] ~-0.1), NGC 6553 ([Fe/H] ~-0.2), M 71 ([Fe/H] ~-0.8), NGC 6558 ([Fe/H] ~-1.0), NGC 6426 ([Fe/H] ~-2.1), and Terzan 8 ([Fe/H] ~-2.2). They cover the full range of globular cluster metallicities, and are located in the bulge, disc, and halo.
Methods: Full spectrum-fitting techniques were applied by comparing each target spectrum with a stellar library in the optical region at 4560-5860 Å. We employed the library of observed spectra MILES, and the Coelho synthetic library. We validated the method by recovering the known atmospheric parameters for 49 well-studied stars that cover a wide range in the parameter space. We adopted as final stellar parameters (effective temperatures, gravities, metallicities) the average of results using the observed and synthetic spectral libraries.
Results: We identified 4 member stars in NGC 6528, 13 in NGC 6553, 10 in M 71, 5 in NGC 6558, 5 in NGC 6426, and 12 in Terzan 8. Radial velocities, Teff, log(g), [Fe/H], and alpha-element enhancements were derived. We derived ⟨ vhelio ⟩ = -242 ± 11 km s-1, [Fe/H] = - 2.39 ± 0.04, [Mg/Fe] = 0.38 ± 0.06 for NGC 6426 from spectroscopy for the first time.
Conclusions: The method proved to be reliable for red giant stars observed with resolution R ~ 2000, yielding results compatible with high-resolution spectroscopy. The derived α-element abundances show [α/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] consistent with that of field stars at the same metallicities.
Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory/Paranal, Chile, under programmes 077.D-0775(A) and 089.D-0493(B).Figures 14-18, Tables 3, 4, and 6 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
Volume
573
Issue
January 2015
Start page
A13
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Ads BibCode
2015A&A...573A..13D
Rights
open.access
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