The most massive Galactic globular cluster, Omega centauri, appears to have multiple populations. Its bluest main sequence and extended horizontal branch stars are suggested to have the common origin, that is, an extremely high helium abundance of Y ~ 0.4. The high helium abundance is most often attributed to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. In this study we test the AGB hypothesis. We simulate the maximum-AGB models where the impact of AGB stars is maximised by assuming that supernova explosions do not affect the chemical evolution of the proto cloud. We compare the enrichment history of helium, metals, carbon and nitrogen to the observed values. Even under the most generous condition, the maximum-AGB models fail to reproduce the large values of helium Y ~ 0.4 and helium enrichment parameter Delta Y / Delta Z ~ 70 which were deduced from the colour-magnitude diagram fits. They also fail to reproduce the C and N contents of the blue population spectroscopically determined. We conclude that the AGB scenario with the canonical stellar evolution theory cannot explain the observational constraints and that the self chemical enrichment does not provide a viable solution. Alternative processes are desperately called for.
We have investigated whether or not a tidal stripping scenario can reproduce the observed surface-brightness profile of omega Centauri using N-body simulations. Assuming that the progenitor of omega Centauri is a dwarf elliptical galaxy, we model it with a King model with a core radius being the same as that of omega Centauri. A dark matter halo of the dwarf is not taken into account. We consider two different models of the Milky Way potential: a singular isothermal sphere and a three-component model. The progenitor dwarf is expressed as an N-body system, which orbits in the fixed Galactic pot…
The globular cluster Omega Centauri displays evidence of a complex star formation history and peculiar internal chemical evolution, setting it apart from essentially all other globular clusters of the Milky Way. In this review we discuss the nature of the chemical evolution that has occurred within Omega Cen and attempt to construct a simple scenario to explain its chemistry.
By means of N-body/hydrodynamical simulations we model the evolution of a primordial 10^{8} solar masses density peak which ends up in an object closely resembling the present day globular cluster Omega Centauri. We succeed to reproduce the main features of the cluster, namely the structure, kinematics and metallicity distribution. We suggest that Omega Centauri might be a cosmological dwarf elliptical, formed at high redshift, evolved in isolation and self-enriched, and eventually fallen inside the potential well of the Milky Way, in agreement with the Searle-Zinn (1978) paradigm for galactic…
In response to the proposed high helium content stars as an explanation for the double main sequence observed in Omega Centauri, we investigated the consequences of such stars elsewhere on the color-magnitude diagram. We concentrated on the horizontal branch where the effects of high helium are expected to show themselves more clearly. In the process, we developed a procedure for comparing the mass loss suffered by differing stellar populations in a physically motivated manner. High helium stars in the numbers proposed seem absent from the horizontal branch of Omega Centauri unless their mass …
The discovery of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, which is being tidally disrupted by and merging with the Milky Way, supports the view that the halo of the Galaxy has been built up at least partially by the accretion of similar dwarf systems. The Sagittarius dwarf contains several distinct populations of stars, and includes M54 as its nucleus, which is the second most massive globular cluster associated with the Milky Way. The most massive globular cluster is omega Centauri, and here we report that omega Centauri also has several distinct stellar populations, as traced by red-giant-branch stars.…
Using current observational data and simple dynamical modeling, we demonstrate that Omega Cen is not special among the Galactic globular clusters in its ability to produce and retain the heavy elements dispersed in the AGB phase of stellar evolution. The multiple stellar populations observed in Omega Cen cannot be explained if it had formed as an isolated star cluster. The formation within a progenitor galaxy of the Milky Way is more likely, although the unique properties of Omega Cen still remain a mystery.
Carbon-12 and carbon-13 abundances are measured in eleven red-giant members of the globular cluster Omega Centauri via observations of first-overtone CO bands near 2.3 microns. The mean value for the entire sample is <12C/13C>= 4.3 +/-0.4, with nine giants equal, within the errors, to the equilibrium ration of 12C/13C= 3.5. No correlation is found within Omega Cen between 12C/13C and the abundance of iron. The relation between 12C/13C and other abundance ratios, such as [O/Fe], {Na/Fe], or [Al/Fe] are also discussed.
We present a detailed analysis of the spatial distribution of the stellar populations in the Galactic globular cluster omega Centauri. Taking advantage of the large photometric catalog published by Pancino et al. (2000), we confirm that metal-rich populations have a spatial distribution which is significantly different from the metal-poor dominant population. In particular: (i) the different sub-populations have different centroids and (ii) the metal-poor population is elongated along the E-W direction, while the metal-rich populations are oriented along the orthogonal direction, i.e., N-S. Th…
Abundance ratios relative to iron for carbon, nitrogen, strontium and barium are presented for a metal-rich main sequence star ([Fe/H]=--0.74) in the globular cluster omega Centauri. This star, designated 2015448, shows depleted carbon and solar nitrogen, but more interestingly, shows an enhanced abundance ratio of strontium [Sr/Fe] ~ 1.6 dex, while the barium abundance ratio is [Ba/Fe]<0.6 dex. At this metallicity one usually sees strontium and barium abundance ratios that are roughly equal. Possible formation scenarios of this peculiar object are considered.
In this contribution I am going to present some preliminary results of a high-resolution spectroscopic campaign focussed on the most metal rich red giant stars in Omega Cen. This study is part of a long term project we started a few years ago, which is aimed at studying the properties of the different stellar populations in Omega Cen. The final goal of the whole project is the global understanding of both the star formation and the chemical evolution history of this complex stellar system.
Abundance ratios of carbon, nitrogen and strontium relative to iron, calculated using spectrum synthesis techniques, are given for a sample of main sequence and turnoff stars that belong to the globular cluster omega Centauri. The variations of carbon, nitrogen and/or strontium show several different abundance patterns as a function of [Fe/H]. The source of the enhancements/depletions in carbon, nitrogen and/or strontium may be enrichment from asymptotic giant branch stars of low (1--3 solar masses) and intermediate (3--8 solar masses) mass. Massive rotating stars which produce excess nitrogen…
We present the results of a deep photometric survey performed with FORS1@VLT aimed at investigating the complex Main Sequence structure of the stellar system omega Centauri. We confirm the presence of a double Main Sequence and identify its blue component (bMS) over a large field of view up to 26' from the cluster center. We found that bMS stars are significantly more concentrated toward the cluster center than the other "normal" MS stars. The bMS morphology and its position in the CMD have been used to constrain the helium overabundance required to explain the observed MS morphology.
A century of observations of omega Centauri allows us to accurately follow the period changes of a large sample of variable stars. Although the period changes are composed of monotone and irregular changes, period increases dominate in most of the RRab stars. The typical period increase rates are of the same order of magnitude as model calculations predict for the evolved, redward phase of horizontal branch evolution. For the 44 well observed RRab stars which show monotonic period changes, a mean rate of 0.15 d/Myr has been found. The period changes of the first overtone RRc type stars show a …
We present accurate and deep multiband B,R,Halpha data for the globular cluster Omega Cen collected with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on HST. The photometric catalogue includes more than one million stars. By adopting severe selection criteria we identified more than 600 bona fide White Dwarfs (WDs). Empirical evidence suggests that a small sample of WDs are Halpha-bright. The comparison between WD isochrones and observations shows a reasonable agreement at fainter magnitudes and a mismatch at the brighter ones.
Despite the many studies on stellar nucleosynthesis published so far, the scenario for the production of Cu in stars remains elusive. In particular, it is still debated whether copper originates mostly in massive stars or type Ia supernovae. To answer this question, we compute self-consistent chemical evolution models taking into account the results of updated stellar nucleosynthesis. By contrasting copper evolution in Omega Cen and the Milky Way, we end up with a picture where massive stars are the major responsible for the production of Cu in Omega Cen as well as the Galactic disc.
I present some preliminary results from a high-resolution spectroscopic observing campaign conducted with UVES at the ESO VLT, devoted to the study of the newly discovered, metal-rich red giant branch (RGB-a) in omega Centauri. In particular, I derive and discuss accurate abundances of iron-peak elements, alpha-elements and s-process elements. The main results discussed in this contribution are: (i) the RGB-a is the most metal-rich component of the RGB stellar mix in omega Cen, with [Fe/H]=-0.62+/-0.06; (ii) the RGB-a has a lower alpha-enhancement compared to the other red giants, possibly due…
Recent, high precision photometry of Omega Centauri, the biggest Galactic globular cluster, has been obtained with Hubble Space Telescope. The color magnitude diagram reveals an unexpected bifurcation of colors in the main sequence (MS). The newly found double MS, the multiple turnoffs and subgiant branches, and other sequences discovered in the past along the red giant branch of this cluster add up to a fascinating but frustrating puzzle. Among the possible explanations for the blue main sequence an anomalous overabundance of helium is suggested. The hypothesis will be tested with a set of FL…
Recent stellar populations and chemical abundance studies point to an accreted origin of omega Cen. In this light, and given the retrograde, small size orbit of omega Cen, we search for a kinematical signature left by bits hypothetical parent galaxy in the Solar neighborhood. We analyze the largets-to-date sample of metal poor stars (Beers et al. 2000) and we find that, in the metallicity range -2.0 < [Fe/H] <= -1.5, a retrograde signature that departs from the characteristics of the inner halo, and that resembles omega Cen's orbit, can be identified.
We report the results of an extensive VLT high-resolution imaging campaign of the central region of the giant globular cluster omega Centauri. More than 100,000 stars have been measured in the inner 9'x 9' region of the cluster. On the basis of multiband Colour Magnitude Diagrams (CMD), we confirm the existence of multiple stellar populations along the Red Giant Branch (RGB). Moreover, thanks to the high-precision of this dataset, we conclude that the RGB does not present a smooth and continuous distribution, but shows a discrete structure: besides the metal-poor and the extreme metal-rich pop…
A revised metallicity calibration of the Stroemgren (b-y),m_1 diagram, based on a sample of globular cluster and field red giant stars, is presented. This new calibration has been used to determine Stroemgren metallicities ([Fe/H]_phot) for more than 1400 red giants in omega Centauri. Most of the stars belong to a metal poor ([Fe/H]_phot = -1.7 dex), old population. A second more metal rich ([Fe/H]_phot = -0.9 dex) population is found to be about 3 Gyr younger and more centrally concentrated than the old one. The CN-rich stars do not seem to follow the radial distribution of the metal rich pop…
Recent wide-field photometric surveys (Lee et al.; Pancino et al.) have shown the existence of a previously unknown metal-rich ([Fe/H] -0.6) stellar population in the galactic globular cluster omega Centauri. The discovery of this new component, which comprises only a small percentage (~5%) of the entire cluster population, has added a new piece to the already puzzling picture of the star formation and chemical evolution of this stellar system. In this Letter we show that stars belonging to the newly discovered metal-rich population have a coherent bulk motion with respect to the other cluster…
We explore an accretion origin for Omega Cen by N-body modeling of the orbital decay and disruption of a Milky-Way dwarf satellite. This work is focused on studying a particular satellite model that aims to reproduce the present orbit of Omega Cen, as recently determined from absolute proper motions. The model satellite is launched from 58 kpc from the Galactic Center, on a radial, low-inclination orbit. We find that a capture scenario can produce an Omega Cen-like object with the current low-energy orbit of the cluster. Our best model is a nucleated galaxy with a Hernquist density profile tha…
Scarpa et al. (2003) have used their new measurements of the line-of-sight velocity dispersion at radii R ~ 30-45 pc in omega Centauri to argue for modifications to Newtonian dynamics (MOND) at low accelerations in the outer reaches of this globular cluster. Alternatively, any such evidence could be taken as an indication of the presence of an extended dark-matter halo. We show that the data of Scarpa et al. are in fact consistent with earlier observations by Seitzer and by Meylan et al., which are in turn well described at large radii by simple, self-consistent dynamical models. There is no n…
We present HST observations that show a bifurcation of colors in the middle main sequence of the globular cluster Omega Centauri. We see this in three different fields, observed with different cameras and filters. We also present high precision photometry of a central ACS field which shows a number of main-sequence turnoffs and subgiant branches. The double main sequence, the multiple turnoffs and subgiant branches, and other population sequences discovered in the past along the red giant branch of this cluster add up to a fascinating but frustrating puzzle. We suggest various explanations, no…
A new formation scenario for omega-Cen is presented, in which omega-Cen has formed from a star cluster complex (= super-cluster). The star-burst which has led to the formation of this cluster of star clusters was triggered by the infall and destruction of a gas-rich dwarf galaxy during the early build-up phase of the Milky Way. While the star clusters in the super-cluster merge on a few crossing times scale, which is always longer than the individual cluster formation time-scale, they capture stars from the destroyed dwarf galaxy very efficiently. This process makes it possible to explain the …
The globular cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is the most massive and brightest cluster in our Galaxy. It has also a moderately high mass to light ratio (3.6) and an anomalous flattening (0.83) for a globular cluster. This cluster is also very interesting because it is one of a few examples of globular clusters with a measurable spread in the metal abundance (see Da Costa & Willumsen 1981, Norris et al. 1996, and Suntzeff and Kraft 1996 and references therein) and then it offers a unique, big sample of nearby stars having all the same distance and reddening but showing different metallicity (…
The stellar dynamics of Omega Centauri are inferred from the radial velocities of 469 stars measured with CORAVEL (Mayor et al. 1997). Rather than fit the data to a family of models, we generate estimates of all dynamical functions nonparametrically, by direct operation on the data. The cluster is assumed to be oblate and edge-on but mass is not assumed to follow light. The mean motions are consistent with axisymmetry but the rotation is not cylindrical. The peak rotational velocity is 7.9 km/s at 11 pc from the center. The apparent rotation of Omega Centauri is attributable in part to its pro…
The origin of a double main-sequence (MS) in omega Centauri is explored. We have shown from theoretical calculations on the stellar evolution that the colors of MS stars are shifted to those of the observed blue MS if the surface layers are polluted by He-rich materials with the mass of ~ 0.1 solar mass. Stars are supposed to be polluted through numerous encounters with the ejecta descended from massive asymptotic giant-branch (AGB) stars. Two populations of stars with different kinematics exceptionally observed in omega Cen indicate that kinematically cooler stars are more polluted through en…
We present deep and accurate Near-Infrared (NIR) photometry of the Galactic Globular Cluster (GC) Omega Cen. Data were collected using the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Demonstrator (MAD) on VLT (ESO). The unprecedented quality of the images provided the opportunity to perform accurate photometry in the central crowded regions. Preliminary results indicate that the spread in age among the different stellar populations in Omega Cen is limited.
Near-infrared spectra of 21 giants in omega Centauri, spanning the whole range of metallicities observed in this cluster, are presented. This work is part of a coordinated photometric and spectroscopic campaign in the optical and in the infrared, aimed at studying the complex stellar population of omega Centauri and understanding its formation and chemical evolution. By analyzing the several CO and OH molecular bands and atomic lines in the spectra of the selected giants, metal abundances and abundance ratios have been obtained. The existence of three major metallicity regimes at [Fe/H]=-1.6, …
The origin of abundance spreads observed in omega Centauri is studied in the context of the self-enrichment scenario. Five chemical evolution models are constructed and are compared with empirical metallicity distribution of $ω$ Cen. After a series of simulations, it is found that neither of closed-box, outflow, nor infall models can reproduce the empirical metallicity distribution of omega Cen, while a modified outflow model with a bimodal initial mass function (IMF) gives a metallicity distribution that fits closely to the empirical ones. In the modified outflow model, long-lived stars are a…
We present the first result of the Ital-FLAMES survey of red giant branch (RGB) stars in omega Cen. Radial velocities with a precision of ~0.5 km/s are presented for 650 members of omega Cen observed with FLAMES-Giraffe at the Very Large Telescope. We found that stars belonging to the metal -poor (RGB-MP), metal-intemediate (RGB-MInt) and metal-rich (RGB-a) sub -populations of Omega Cen are all compatible with having the same rotational pattern. Our results appear to contradict past findings by Norris et al., who could not detect any rotational signature for metal -rich stars. The slightly hig…
Copper abundances are presented for 40 red-giant stars in Omega Cen as well as 15 red-giant members of the globular clusters NGC288, NGC362, NGC3201, NGC6752, and M4. A comparison with the halo field star pattern indicates that, unlike the field stars, Omega Cen displays a constant ratio of [Cu/Fe] -0.5 all the way from [Fe/H]=-2.0 to -0.8. At the metallicity of [Fe/H]= -0.8, the values of [Cu/Fe] in Omega Cen fall below the corresponding mean ratio in the field stars by roughly 0.5 dex. If copper is produced primarily in type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), the lack of an increase in [Cu/Fe] in Omega …
For the first time, the abundances of a large sample of subgiant and turn-off region stars in omega Centauri have been measured, the data base being medium resolution spectroscopy from FORS2 at the VLT. Absolute iron abundances were derived for about 400 member stars from newly defined line indices with an accuracy of +/-0.15 dex. The abundances range between -2.2<[Fe/H]<-0.7 dex, resembling the large metallicity spread found for red giant branch stars. The combination of the spectroscopic results with the location of the stars in the colour magnitude diagram has been used to estimate ages for…
We explore the metallicity distribution function (MDF) of red giant stars in Omega Centauri from a catalogue of Washington M, T_2 and DDO51 photometry covering over 1.1 deg^2 outside the cluster core. Using updated calibrations of giant branch isometallicity loci in this filter system, photometric metallicities, guided by previously published spectroscopic abundances, are derived. Several methods are employed to correct the MDF for contamination by Galactic stars, including: (1) use of the surface gravity sensitivity of the (M-DDO51) color index to eliminate foreground dwarf stars, (2) radial …
We have observed (with vby filters) a field north of the core of the most massive globular cluster in our galaxy, Omega Centauri. We have found a correlation of age and metallicity in a region which avoids the dense core and the inhomogeneous foreground dust emission shown by the IRAS satellite. Our observations show that the comparatively metal-rich stars (as defined by the (b-y) and m_1 colors) are younger than the metal-poor stars by at least 3 Gyr. This correlation of metallicity with age suggests that Omega Cen has enriched itself over a timescale of about 3 Gyr, and possibly longer. It i…
We present deep multiband (F435W, F625W, and F658N) photometric data of the Globular Cluster Omega Cen collected with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on board of the Hubble Space Telescope. We identified in the (F435W-F625W, F435W) plane more than two thousand White Dwarf (WD) candidates using three out of nine available pointings. Such a large sample appears in agreement with predictions based on the ratio between WD and Horizontal Branch (HB) evolutionary lifetimes. We also detected ~ 1600 WDs in the (F658N-F625W, F625W) plane, supporting the evidence that a large fraction of current cluster…
Astrometry, on the International Celestial Reference Frame (epoch J2000.0), is presented for the Walker (1994, PASP, 106, 828) stars in the Omega Centauri (= NGC 5139 = C1323-1472) Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) calibration field of Harris et al. (1993, AJ, 105, 1196). Harris et al. stars were first identified on a WFPC2 observation of the omega Cen HST calibration field. Relative astrometry of the Walker stars in this field was then obtained using Walker's CCD positions and astrometry derived using the STSDAS METRIC task on the positions of the Harris et al. stars …
We have used the ARGUS multi-object spectrometer at the CTIO 4m Blanco telescope to obtain 2756 radial velocity measurements for 1966 individual stars in the globular cluster omega Centauri brighter than blue photographic magnitude of about 16.5. Of these, 1589 stars are cluster members. A comparison with two independent radial velocity studies, carried out by Suntzeff & Kraft and by Mayor et al., demonstrates that the median error of our measurements is below 2 km/s for the stars brighter than B-magnitude 15, which constitute the bulk of the sample. The observed velocity dispersion decreases …
Detached eclipsing double line spectroscopic binaries are accurate distance indicators. They can be used for the direct determination of distances to globular clusters in which such systems can be identified. The results of major photometric surveys aimed at identification of variable stars in omega Cen are summarized. Over 43 eclipsing binaries have been identified so far in the cluster field of which only 8 objects are true detached systems. Distance and age determinations are presented for the system OGLEGC-17. The apparent distance modulus is (m-M)_{V}=14.09\pm 0.04 and the age of this bin…
Medium resolution spectra of more than 400 subgiant and turn-off region stars in Omega Centauri were analysed. The observations were performed at the VLT/Paranal with FORS2/MXU. In order to determine the metallicities of the sample stars, we defined a set of line indices (mostly iron) adjusted to the resolution of our spectra. The indices as determined for Omega Centauri were then compared to line indices from stars in the chemically homogeneous globular cluster M55, in addition to standard stars and synthetic spectra. The uncertainties in the derived metallicities are of the order of 0.2 dex.…
We present multi-wavelength observations of the northern population of Omega Cen from the main-sequence turn-off to high on the red giant branch. We show that the best information about the metallicity and age of the stars can be gained from combining vby, B-I and V-I colors (in the absence of spectroscopy). We confirm our results for the main-sequence turn-off stars: there is at least a 3 Gyr age spread. We use proper motion studies to confirm cluster membership at and above the level of the horizontal branch, and we show that the age spread is maintained amongst stars from the subgiant branc…
We have performed a large ground-based search for transiting Hot Jupiter planets in the outer regions of the globular clusters 47 Tucanae and omega Centauri. The aim was to help understand the role that environmental effects play on Hot Jupiter formation and survivability in globular clusters. Using the ANU 1m telescope and a 52' X 52' field, a total of 54,000 solar-type stars were searched for transits in both clusters with fully tested transit-finding algorithms. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations were performed to model the datasets and calculate the expected planet yields. Seven planets were…
The globular cluster omega Centauri contains the largest known population of very hot horizontal branch (HB) stars. We have used the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain a far-UV/optical color-magnitude diagram of three fields in omega Cen. We find that over 30% of the HB objects are ``extreme'' HB or hot post-HB stars. The hot HB stars are not concentrated toward the cluster center, which argues against a dynamical origin for them. A wide gap in the color distribution of the hot HB stars appears to correspond to gaps found earlier in several other clusters. This suggests a common mechanism, proba…
We present the kinematic properties of a tidally disrupted dwarf galaxy in the Milky Way, based on the hypothesis that its central part once contained the most massive Galactic globular cluster, omega Cen. Dynamical evolution of a self-gravitating progenitor galaxy that follows the present-day and likely past orbits of omega Cen is calculated numerically and the kinematic nature of their tidal debris is analyzed, combined with randomly generated stars comprising spheroidal halo and flat disk components. We show that the retrograde rotation of the debris stars at $\sim -100$ km/s accords with a…
Using the 2dF multi-fibre instrument at the AAT, we have carried out a spectroscopic survey of over 1500 stars brighter than B=16.6 mag, which have been confirmed by the proper motion study of van Leeuwen et al. (2000) to be members of the massive galactic globular cluster, omega Centauri. The survey aimed at sampling the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram in a uniform way, thus avoiding a bias towards the dominant stellar population and allowing the study of stars with less common properties such as particularly metal-rich or metal-poor stars. Exceptionally, though, emphasis has been given to includ…
We present results of an extensive spectroscopic survey of Subgiant stars in the stellar system omega Centauri. Using infrared CaII triplet lines, we derived metallicities and radial velocities for more than 250 stars belonging to different stellar populations of the system. We find that the most metal rich component, the anomalous Sub Giant Branch (SGB-a), has a metallicity of [Fe/H] -0.6 fully compatible with that determined along the anomalous Red Giant Branch (RGB-a). Our analysis suggests that the age of this component and of the other metal-intermediate (-1.4 < [Fe/H] < -1.0) stellar pop…
Chemical evolution models are presented for the anomalous globular cluster Omega Centauri. After demonstrating that the chemical features of Omega Cen can not be reproduced in the framework of the closed-box self-enrichment scenario, we discuss a model in which this cluster is the remnant of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy evolved in isolation and then swallowed by the Milky Way. Both infall of primordial matter and metal-enriched gas outflows have to be considered in order to reproduce the stellar metallicity distribution function, the age-metallicity relation and several abundance ratios. Yet, as …
Having shown in a recent paper that the main sequence of omega Centauri is split into two distinct branches, we now present spectroscopic results showing that the bluer sequence is_less_ metal-poor. We have carefully combined GIRAFFE@VLT spectra of 17 stars on each side of the split into a single spectrum for each branch, with adequate S/N to show clearly that the stars of the blue main sequence are less metal poor by 0.3 dex than those of the dominant red one. From an analysis of the individual spectra, we could not detect any abundance spread among the blue main sequence stars, while the red…
We simulate the result of orbital decay for a dwarf satellite galaxy in a disk galaxy potential. The peeling-off of the satellite by the strong tidal field within the disk of the host galaxy quickly reduces the satellite's mass, and drastically slows down the decaying of the orbit. The result is generally a cluster on a large halo orbit, like the M54 cluster of the Sagittarius galaxy in the Milky Way and the massive G1 cluster in outer halo of M31. It is generally challenging for this mechanism to deliver globular cluster-mass objects to the observed very close-in orbit of Omega Cen unless the…
By means of deep FORS1@VLT and ACS@HST observations of a wide area in the stellar system omega Cen we measured the luminosity function of main sequence stars down to R=22.6 and I_{F814W}=24.5 . The luminosity functions obtained have been converted into mass functions and compared with analytical Initial Mass Functions (IMFs) available in the literature. The mass function obtained, reaching M~0.15 M_s, can be well reproduced by a broken power-law with indices alpha=-2.3 for M>0.5 M_s and alpha=-0.8 for M<0.5 M_s. Since the stellar populations of omega Cen have been proved to be actually unaffec…
We have conducted a systematic search for multiperiodic pulsations in the RR Lyrae-type stars of the galactic globular cluster Omega Cen. Secondary periodicities close to the primary pulsation frequency have been detected in 17 out of 70 studied fundamental mode (RRab) pulsators and in 35 out of 81 overtone (RRc) pulsators. Because of the observed period ratios, these newly detected periodicities must correspond to nonradial modes. Their beating with the primary radial pulsation leads to a slow amplitude and phase modulation, commonly referred to as the Blazhko effect. The incidence rate of Bl…
We present wide-field and high-precision BV and Ca & Stromgren by photometry of omega Centauri and its RR Lyrae stars, which represents one of the most extensive photometric surveys to date for this cluster. The member stars of omega Cen are well discriminated from foreground Galactic disk stars from the different distributions in the hk [=(Ca-b)-(b-y)] vs. b-y diagram. The color-magnitude diagrams show the presence of several distinct red-giant branches with a red, metal-rich, sequence clearly separated from other bluer metal-poor ones. Comparison with our population models suggests the most …
In this contribution, results from CCD vby Stroemgren photometry of a statistically complete sample of red giants and stars in the main sequence turn-off region in omega Centauri are presented. From the location of stars in the (b-y),m_1 diagram metallicities have been determined. We argue that the Stroemgren metallicity in terms of element abundances has another meaning than in other globular clusters. From a comparison with spectroscopic element abundances, we find the best correlation with the sum C+N. The high Stroemgren metallicities, if interpreted by strong CN-bands, result from progres…
Three fields covering the central part of the globular cluster Omega Cen were surveyed in a search for variable stars. We present V-band light curves for 22 periodic variables: 9 SX~Phe stars, 7 contact binaries, 5 detached or semi-detached binaries, and one spotted variable (FK Com or RS CVn type star). Only 2 of these variables were previously known. All SX Phe stars and all contact binaries from our sample belong to blue stragglers. Observed properties of these stars are consistent with their cluster membership. Of particular interest is detection of two well detached binaries with periods …
Aim: The aim of this work was to search for double mode pulsators among RR Lyr variables of globular cluster Omega Cen. Methods: We conducted a systematic frequency analysis of CASE photometry of Omega Cen RR Lyr stars. We searched for periodicities using Fourier and ANOVA periodograms, combined with consecutive prewhitening technique. Results: We discovered six double mode pulsators, with the first overtone and a secondary mode of higher frequency simultaneously excited. These are the first double mode RR Lyr stars identified in Omega Cen. In variable V10 period ratio of the two modes is 0.80…
New photometry of RRab and RRc stars in Omega Cen is used to calibrate their absolute magnitudes M_V as a function of: a) metallicity; and b) the Fourier parameters of light curves in the V band. The zero point of both calibrations relies on the distance modulus to the cluster derived earlier by the CASE project based on observations of the detached eclipsing binary OGLE GC17. For RRab variables we obtained a relation of M_V=(0.26\pm 0.08)[Fe/H]+(0.91\pm 0.13). A dereddened distance modulus to the LMC based on that formula is $μ_{0}=18.56\pm 0.14$ mag. The second calibration of M_V, which is b…
We present wide-field and high-precision BV and Ca & Stromgren by photometry of omega Centauri, which represents one of the most extensive photometric surveys to date for this cluster. The member stars of omega Cen are well discriminated from foreground Galactic field stars in the hk [=(Ca-b)-(b-y)] vs. b-y diagram. The resulting "cleaned" color-magnitude diagram (CMD) has allowed us to obtain an accurate distribution of the red horizontal branch (HB) and the asymptotic giant branch stars. We confirm the presence of several red giant branches (RGBs) with the most metal-rich sequence well separ…
We present a metallicity distribution based on photometry and spectra for 442 omega Cen cluster members that lie at the main sequence turnoff region of the color-magnitude diagram. This distribution is similar to that found for the red giant branch. The distribution shows a sharp rise to a mean of [Fe/H] = -1.7 with a long tail to higher metallicities. Ages have then been determined for the stars using theoretical isochrones enabling the construction of an age-metallicity diagram. Interpretation of this diagram is complicated by the correlation of the errors in the metallicities and ages. Neve…
We have employed feedforward neural networks trained on synthetic spectra in the range 3800 to 5600 AA with resolutions of 2-3 AA to determine metallicities from spectra of about 1000 main-sequence turn-off, subgiant and red giant stars in the globular clusters M55 and omega Cen. The overall metallicity accuracies are of the order of 0.15 to 0.2 dex. In addition, we tested how well the stellar parameters logg and Teff can be retrieved from such data without additional colour or photometric information. We find overall uncertainties of 0.3 to 0.4 dex for logg and 140 to 190 K for Teff. In order…
