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Chemical abundances of 11 bulge stars from high-resolution, near-IR spectra

Ryde, Nils LU orcid ; Gustafsson, B. ; Edvardsson, B. ; Melendez, J. ; Alves-Brito, A. ; Asplund, M. ; Barbuy, B. ; Hill, V. ; Kaeufl, H. U. and Minniti, D. , et al. (2010) In Astronomy & Astrophysics 509.
Abstract
Context. It is debated whether the Milky Way bulge has characteristics more similar to those of a classical bulge than those of a pseudobulge. Detailed abundance studies of bulge stars are important when investigating the origin, history, and classification of the bulge. These studies provide constraints on the star-formation history, initial mass function, and differences between stellar populations. Not many similar studies have been completed because of the large distance and high variable visual extinction along the line-of-sight towards the bulge. Therefore, near-IR investigations can provide superior results. Aims. To investigate the origin of the bulge and study its chemical abundances determined from near-IR spectra for bulge... (More)
Context. It is debated whether the Milky Way bulge has characteristics more similar to those of a classical bulge than those of a pseudobulge. Detailed abundance studies of bulge stars are important when investigating the origin, history, and classification of the bulge. These studies provide constraints on the star-formation history, initial mass function, and differences between stellar populations. Not many similar studies have been completed because of the large distance and high variable visual extinction along the line-of-sight towards the bulge. Therefore, near-IR investigations can provide superior results. Aims. To investigate the origin of the bulge and study its chemical abundances determined from near-IR spectra for bulge giants that have already been investigated with optical spectra. The optical spectra also provide the stellar parameters that are very important to the present study. In particular, the important CNO elements are determined more accurately in the near-IR. Oxygen and other alpha elements are important for investigating the star-formation history. The C and N abundances are important for determining the evolutionary stage of the giants and the origin of C in the bulge. Methods. High-resolution, near-infrared spectra in the H band were recorded using the CRIRES spectrometer mounted on the Very Large Telescope. The CNO abundances are determined from the numerous molecular lines in the wavelength range observed. Abundances of the alpha elements Si, S, and Ti are also determined from the near-IR spectra. Results. The abundance ratios [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [S/Fe] are enhanced to metallicities of at least [Fe/H] = -0.3, after which they decline. This suggests that the Milky Way bulge experienced a rapid and early burst of star formation similar to that of a classical bulge. However, a similarity between the bulge trend and the trend of the local thick disk seems to be present. This similarity suggests that the bulge could have had a pseudobulge origin. The C and N abundances suggest that our giants are first-ascent red-giants or clump stars, and that the measured oxygen abundances are those with which the stars were born. Our [C/Fe] trend does not show any increase with [Fe/H], which is expected if W-R stars contributed substantially to the C abundances. No "cosmic scatter" can be traced around our observed abundance trends: the measured scatter is expected, given the observational uncertainties. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
stars: late-type, infrared: stars, Galaxy: bulge, stars: abundances, stars: carbon
in
Astronomy & Astrophysics
volume
509
publisher
EDP Sciences
external identifiers
  • wos:000274159400032
  • scopus:76349094272
ISSN
0004-6361
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/200912687
project
VR-projektbidrag: Infraröd spektroskopi - ett nytt fönster mot galaktisk astronomi
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eded0944-0458-49af-bf42-b6e7821de375 (old id 1571191)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:59:22
date last changed
2022-12-11 07:41:23
@article{eded0944-0458-49af-bf42-b6e7821de375,
  abstract     = {{Context. It is debated whether the Milky Way bulge has characteristics more similar to those of a classical bulge than those of a pseudobulge. Detailed abundance studies of bulge stars are important when investigating the origin, history, and classification of the bulge. These studies provide constraints on the star-formation history, initial mass function, and differences between stellar populations. Not many similar studies have been completed because of the large distance and high variable visual extinction along the line-of-sight towards the bulge. Therefore, near-IR investigations can provide superior results. Aims. To investigate the origin of the bulge and study its chemical abundances determined from near-IR spectra for bulge giants that have already been investigated with optical spectra. The optical spectra also provide the stellar parameters that are very important to the present study. In particular, the important CNO elements are determined more accurately in the near-IR. Oxygen and other alpha elements are important for investigating the star-formation history. The C and N abundances are important for determining the evolutionary stage of the giants and the origin of C in the bulge. Methods. High-resolution, near-infrared spectra in the H band were recorded using the CRIRES spectrometer mounted on the Very Large Telescope. The CNO abundances are determined from the numerous molecular lines in the wavelength range observed. Abundances of the alpha elements Si, S, and Ti are also determined from the near-IR spectra. Results. The abundance ratios [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [S/Fe] are enhanced to metallicities of at least [Fe/H] = -0.3, after which they decline. This suggests that the Milky Way bulge experienced a rapid and early burst of star formation similar to that of a classical bulge. However, a similarity between the bulge trend and the trend of the local thick disk seems to be present. This similarity suggests that the bulge could have had a pseudobulge origin. The C and N abundances suggest that our giants are first-ascent red-giants or clump stars, and that the measured oxygen abundances are those with which the stars were born. Our [C/Fe] trend does not show any increase with [Fe/H], which is expected if W-R stars contributed substantially to the C abundances. No "cosmic scatter" can be traced around our observed abundance trends: the measured scatter is expected, given the observational uncertainties.}},
  author       = {{Ryde, Nils and Gustafsson, B. and Edvardsson, B. and Melendez, J. and Alves-Brito, A. and Asplund, M. and Barbuy, B. and Hill, V. and Kaeufl, H. U. and Minniti, D. and Ortolani, S. and Renzini, A. and Zoccali, M.}},
  issn         = {{0004-6361}},
  keywords     = {{stars: late-type; infrared: stars; Galaxy: bulge; stars: abundances; stars: carbon}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{EDP Sciences}},
  series       = {{Astronomy & Astrophysics}},
  title        = {{Chemical abundances of 11 bulge stars from high-resolution, near-IR spectra}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200912687}},
  doi          = {{10.1051/0004-6361/200912687}},
  volume       = {{509}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}