AGB subpopulations in the nearby globular cluster NGC 6397

Abstract It has been well established that Galactic Globular clusters (GCs) harbour more than one stellar population, distinguishable by the anticorrelations of light-element abundances (C–N, Na–O, and Mg–Al). These studies have been extended recently to the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Here, we i...

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Published inMonthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 475; no. 1; pp. 257 - 265
Main Authors MacLean, B T, Campbell, S W, De Silva, G M, Lattanzio, J, D'Orazi, V, Cottrell, P L, Momany, Y, Casagrande, L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Oxford University Press 01.03.2018
Subjects
Abundance
Aluminum
Asymptotic giant branch stars
Galactic clusters
Globular clusters
Iron
Magnesium
Red giant stars
Subpopulations
stars: AGB and post-AGB
Galaxy: formation
globular clusters: general
stars: abundances
Galaxy: abundances
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Summary:Abstract It has been well established that Galactic Globular clusters (GCs) harbour more than one stellar population, distinguishable by the anticorrelations of light-element abundances (C–N, Na–O, and Mg–Al). These studies have been extended recently to the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Here, we investigate the AGB of NGC 6397 for the first time. We have performed an abundance analysis of high-resolution spectra of 47 red giant branch (RGB) and eight AGB stars, deriving Fe, Na, O, Mg, and Al abundances. We find that NGC 6397 shows no evidence of a deficit in Na-rich AGB stars, as reported for some other GCs – the subpopulation ratios of the AGB and RGB in NGC 6397 are identical, within uncertainties. This agrees with expectations from stellar theory. This GC acts as a control for our earlier work on the AGB of M4 (with contrasting results), since the same tools and methods were used.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stx3217