A WFC3/HST view of the three stellar populations in the globular cluster NGC 6752

Abstract

Multi-band Hubble Space Telescope photometry reveals that the main sequence, sub-giant, and the red-giant branch of the globular cluster NGC 6752 splits into three main components in close analogy with the three distinct segments along its horizontal branch stars. These triple sequences are consistent with three stellar groups: a stellar population with a chemical composition similar to field-halo stars (Population a), a Population (c) with enhanced sodium and nitrogen, depleted carbon and oxygen, and an enhanced helium abundance (ΔY 0.03), and a Population (b) with an intermediate (between Populations a and c) chemical composition and slightly enhanced helium (ΔY 0.01). These components contain 25% (Population a), 45% (Population b), and 30% (Population c) of the stars. No radial gradient for the relative numbers of the three populations has been identified out to about 2.5 half-mass radii. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..