Lucie Jílková

Open clusters towards the Galactic centre: chemistry and dynamics - A VLT spectroscopic study of NGC 6192, NGC 6404, NGC 6583

Context. In the framework of the study of the Galactic metallicity gradient and its time evolution, we present new high-resolution spectroscopic observations obtained with FLAMES and the fiber link to UVES at VLT of three open clusters (OCs) located within ∼7 kpc from the Galactic centre (GC): NGC 6192, NGC 6404, NGC 6583. We also present new orbit determination for all OCs with Galactocentric distances (RGC) ≤ 8 kpc and metallicity from high-resolution spectroscopy. Aims. We aim to investigate the slope of the inner disc metallicity gradient as traced by OCs and to discuss its implication for the chemical evolution of our Galaxy. Methods. We have derived memberships of a group of evolved stars for each clusters, obtaining a sample of 4, 4, and 2 member stars in NGC 6192, NGC 6404, and NGC 6583, respectively. Using standard LTE analysis we derived stellar parameters and abundance ratios for the iron-peak elements Fe, Ni, Cr, and for the α-elements Al, Mg, Si, Ti, Ca. We calculated the orbits of the OCs currently located within 8 kpc from the GC, and discuss their implication on the present-time radial location. Results. The average metallicities of the three clusters are all oversolar: [Fe/H] =+ 0.12±0.04 (NGC 6192), +0.11±0.04 (NGC 6404), +0.37 ± 0.03 (NGC 6583). They are in qualitative agreement with their Galactocentric distances, because they are all internal OCs, and expected to be more metal rich than the solar neighbourhood. The abundance ratios of the other elements over iron [X/Fe] are consistent with solar values. Conclusions. The clusters we have analysed confirm, together with other OC and Cepheid data, a steep gradient in the inner disc, a signature of an evolutionary rate that is different from the one in the outer disc.

SPACE VELOCITIES OF SOUTHERN GLOBULAR CLUSTERS. VII. NGC 6397, NGC 6626 (M28), AND NGC 6656 (M22)

We have measured the absolute proper motions of globular clusters NGC 6397, NGC 6626 (M22), and NGC 6656 (M28) as part of our ongoing Southern Proper-Motion Program. The reference system is the ICRS via Hipparcos stars for these three low-Galactic-latitude clusters. Formal errors range between {approx}0.3 and 0.7 mas yr{sup -1}. Notable is the result for NGC 6397, which differs by 2.5 mas yr{sup -1} from two Hubble Space Telescope determinations while agreeing with previous ground-based ones. We determine orbits for all three clusters in an axisymmetric and barred model of the Galaxy and discuss these in the context of globular-cluster formation. M22 is a well-known cluster with an iron abundance spread; such clusters are now believed to have formed in massive parent systems that can retain ejecta of core-collapsed supernovae. We find that the five currently accepted globular clusters with iron/calcium abundance spread show orbits unrelated to each other, thus suggesting at least five independent, massive progenitors that have contributed to the build-up of the Milky-Way halo.

Lithium-rich giants in the Galactic thick disk

Context. Lithium is a fragile element, which is easily destroyed in the stellar interior. The existence of lithium-rich giants still represents a challenge for stellar evolution models. Aims. We have collected a large database of high-resolution stellar spectra of 824 candidate thick-disk giants having 2 MASS photometry and proper motions measured by the Southern Proper-Motion Program (SPM). In order to investigate the nature of Li-rich giants, we searched this database for giants presenting a strong Li I resonance line. Methods. We performed a chemical abundance analysis on the selected stars with the MOOG code along with proper ATLAS-9 model atmospheres. The iron content and atmospheric parameters were fixed by using the equivalent width of a sample of Fe lines. We also derive abundances for C, N, and O and measure or derive lower limits on the 12 C/ 13 C isotopic ratios, which is a sensible diagnostic of the stars evolutionary status. Results. We detected five stars with a lithium abundance higher than 1.5, i.e. Li-rich according to the current definition. One of them (SPM-313132) has A(Li) > 3.3 and, because of this, belongs to the group of the rare super Li-rich giants. Its kinematics makes it

How Sedna and family were captured in a close encounter with a solar sibling

The discovery of 2012VP113 initiated the debate on the origin of the Sedna family of planetesimals in orbit around the Sun. Sednitos roam the outer regions of the Solar System between the Egeworth--Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud, in extraordinary wide (a>150au) orbits with a large perihelion distance of q>30au compared to the Earths (a=1au and eccentricity e=(1-q/a) ~ 0.0167 or q=1au). This population is composed of a dozen objects, which we consider a family because they have similar perihelion distance and inclination with respect to the ecliptic i=10--30deg. They also have similar argument of perihelion omega=340+/-55deg. There is no ready explanation for their origin. Here we show that these orbital parameters are typical for a captured population from the planetesimal disk of another star.Assuming the orbital elements of Sednitos have not changed since they acquired their orbits, we reconstruct the encounter that led to their capture. We conclude that they might have been captured in a near miss with a 1.8MSun star that impacted the Sun at ~340au at an inclination with respect to the ecliptic of 17--34deg with a relative velocity at infinity of ~4.3km/s. We predict that the Sednitos-region is populated by 930 planetesimals and the inner Oort cloud acquired ~440 planetesimals through the same encounter.

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Probes of the inner disk abundance gradient

Context. The nature of the metallicity gradient inside the solar circle (RGC <8 kpc) is poorly understood, but studies of Cepheids and a small sample of open clusters suggest that it steepens in the inner disk. Aims. We investigate the metallicity gradient of the inner disk using a sample of inner disk open clusters that is three times larger than has previously been studied in the literature to better characterize the gradient in this part of the disk. Methods. We used the Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) [Fe/H] values and stellar parameters for stars in 12 open clusters in the inner disk from GES-UVES data. Cluster mean [Fe/H] values were determined based on a membership analysis for each cluster. Where necessary, distances and ages to clusters were determined via comparison to theoretical isochrones. Results. The GES open clusters exhibit a radial metallicity gradient of -0.10 ± 0.02 dex kpc-1, consistent with the gradient measured by other literature studies of field red giant stars and open clusters in the range RGC ~ 6-12 kpc. We also measure a trend of increasing [Fe/H] with increasing cluster age, as has also been found in the literature. Conclusions. We find no evidence for a steepening of the inner disk metallicity gradient inside the solar circle as earlier studies indicated. The age-metallicity relation shown by the clusters is consistent with that predicted by chemical evolution models that include the effects of radial migration, but a more detailed comparison between cluster observations and models would be premature. (Less)

The origin and orbit of the old, metal-rich, open cluster NGC 6791 - Insights from kinematics

Context. NGC 6791 is a unique stellar system among Galactic open clusters, which is at the same time one of the oldest open clusters and the most metal rich. It is located inside the solar circle , harbors a large population of binary stars, and possibly ex perienced prolonged star formation. The combination of all these properties is puzzling and poses the intriguing question of its o rigin. Aims. One possible scenario is that the cluster formed close to the Galactic Center and later migrated outward to its current location. In this work we study the cluster’s orbit and investigate the possible migration processes that may have displaced NGC 6791 to its present-day position, under the assumption that it actuall y formed in the inner disk. Methods. To this aim we performed integrations of NGC 6791’s orbit in a potential consistent with the main Milky Way parameters. In addition to analytical expressions for halo, bulge and di sk, we also consider the effect of bar and spiral arm perturbations, which are expected to be very important for the disk dynamical evolution, especially inside the solar circle. Starting from state -of-the art initial conditions for NGC 6791, we calculated 1000 orbits back in time for about 1 Gyr turning different non-axisymmetric components of the global potential on and off. We then compared statistical estimates of the cluster’s re cent orbital parameters with the orbital parameters of 10 4 test-particles originating close to the Galactic Center (w ith initial galocentric radii in the range of 3‐5 kpc) and undergoing radial migration during 8 Gyr of forward integration. Results. We find that a model that incorporates a strong bar and spiral a rm perturbations can indeed be responsible for the migration of NGC 6791 from the inner disk (galocentric radii of 3‐5 kpc) to its present-day location. Such a model can provide orbital parameters that are close enough to the observed ones. However, the probability of this scenario as it results from our investigatio ns is very low.

Structural parameters and blue stragglers in Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy globular clusters

We present BV photometry of four Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy globular clusters: Arp 2, NGC 5634, Palomar 12 and Terzan 8, obtained with the Danish Telescope at ESO La Silla. We measure the structural parameters of the clusters using a King profile fitting, obtaining the first reliable measurements of the tidal radius of Arp 2 and Terzan 8. These two clusters are remarkably extended and with low concentrations, with a concentration of only c=0.41+/-0.02, Terzan 8 is less concentrated than any cluster in our Galaxy.

Evidence of tidal distortions and mass-loss from the old open cluster NGC 6791

ED thanks Michele Bellazzini for useful discussions and suggestions. The authors thank the anonymous referee for the careful reading of the paper and his/her suggestions.

The fragility of planetary systems

We specify the range to which perturbations penetrate a planetesimal system. Such perturbations can originate from massive planets or from encounters with other stars. The latter can have an origin in the star cluster in which the planetary system was born, or from random encounters once the planetary system has escaped its parental cluster. The probability of a random encounter, either in a star cluster or in the Galactic field depends on the local stellar density, the velocity dispersion and the time spend in that environment. By adopting order of magnitude estimates, we argue that the majority of planetary systems born in open clusters will have a Parking zone, in which planetesimals are affected by encounters in their parental star cluster but remain unperturbed after the star has left the cluster. Objects found in this range of semimajor axis and eccentricity preserve the memory of the encounter that last affected their orbits, and they can therefore be used to reconstruct this encounter. Planetary systems born in a denser environment, such as in a globular cluster are unlikely to have a Parking zone. We further argue that some planetary systems may have a Frozen zone, in which orbits are not affected either by the more inner massive planets or by external influences. Objects discovered in this zone will have preserved information about their formation in their orbital parameters.

Quadruple-peaked spectral line profiles as a tool to constrain gravitational potential of shell galaxies

Stellar shells observed in many giant elliptical and lenticular as well as a few spiral and dwarf galaxies presumably result from galaxy mergers. Line-of-sight velocity distributions of the shells could, in principle, if measured with a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio, constitute a method to constrain the gravitational potential of the host galaxy. Merrifield & Kuijken (1998, MNRAS, 297, 1292) predicted a double-peaked line profile for stationary shells resulting from a nearly radial minor merger. In this paper, we aim at extending their analysis to a more realistic case of expanding shells, inherent to the merging process, whereas we assume the same type of merger and the same orbital geometry. We used an analytical approach as well as test particle simulations to predict the line-of-sight velocity profile across the shell structure. Simulated line profiles were convolved with spectral PSFs to estimate peak detectability. The resulting line-of-sight velocity distributions are more complex than previously predicted due to nonzero phase velocity of the shells. In principle, each of the Merrifield & Kuijken (1998) peaks splits into two, giving a quadruple-peaked line profile, which allows more precise determination of the potential of the host galaxy and contains additional information. We find simple analytical expressions that connect the positions of the four peaks of the line profile and the mass distribution of the galaxy, namely, the circular velocity at the given shell radius and the propagation velocity of the shell. The analytical expressions were applied to a test-particle simulation of a radial minor merger, and the potential of the simulated host galaxy was successfully recovered. Shell kinematics can thus become an independent tool to determine the content and distribution of the dark matter in shell galaxies up to ~100 kpc from the center of the host galaxy.