CECI N'EST PAS a globular cluster: The metallicity distribution of the stellar system terzan 5

80Citations
Citations of this article
11Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

We present new determinations of the iron abundance for 220 stars belonging to the stellar system Terzan 5 in the Galactic bulge. The spectra have been acquired with FLAMES at the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory and DEIMOS at the Keck II Telescope. This is by far the largest spectroscopic sample of stars ever observed in this stellar system. From this data set, a subsample of targets with spectra unaffected by TiO bands was extracted and statistically decontaminated from field stars. Once combined with 34 additional stars previously published by our group, a total sample of 135 member stars covering the entire radial extent of the system has been used to determine the metallicity distribution function of Terzan 5. The iron distribution clearly shows three peaks: a super-solar component at [Fe/H] ≃ 0.25 dex, accounting for ∼29% of the sample, a dominant sub-solar population at [Fe/H] ≃ -0.30 dex, corresponding to ∼62% of the total, and a minor (6%) metal-poor component at [Fe/H] ≃ -0.8 dex. Such a broad, multi-modal metallicity distribution demonstrates that Terzan 5 is not a genuine globular cluster but the remnant of a much more complex stellar system.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Massari, D., Mucciarelli, A., Ferraro, F. R., Origlia, L., Rich, R. M., Lanzoni, B., … Reitzel, D. (2014). CECI N’EST PAS a globular cluster: The metallicity distribution of the stellar system terzan 5. Astrophysical Journal, 795(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/22

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free