We investigate the relationship between the mass of a globular cluster core and the sizes of its various stellar populations in a sample of 56 globular clusters. The number of core red giant branch stars is found to scale sub-linearly with core mass at the 3-$σ$ confidence level, whereas the relation is linear to within one standard deviation for main-sequence turn-off and sub-giant branch stars. We interpret our results as evidence for a surplus of red giant branch stars in the least massive cluster cores which is not seen for main-sequence turn-off and sub-giant branch stars. We explore various possibilities for the source of this discrepancy, discussing our results primarily in terms of the interplay between the cluster dynamics and stellar evolution.
Globular clusters are main astrophysical laboratories to test and modify evolutionary models. Thought to be rather homogeneous in their local elemental Distribution of members, results suggest a wide variety of chemical peculiarities. Besides different main sequences, believed to be caused by different helium abundances, peculiarities of blue horizontal-branch stars and on the red giant branch were found. This whole zoo of peculiar objects has to be explained in the context of stellar formation and evolution. The tool of Delta a photometry is employed in order to detect peculiar stars in the w…
NGC 2419 is a massive outer halo Galactic globular cluster whose stars have previously been shown to have somewhat peculiar abundance patterns. We have observed seven luminous giants that are members of NGC 2419 with Keck/HIRES at reasonable SNR. One of these giants is very peculiar, with an extremely low [Mg/Fe] and high [K/Fe] but normal abundances of most other elements. The abundance pattern does not match the nucleosynthetic yields of any supernova model. The other six stars show abundance ratios typical of inner halo Galactic globular clusters, represented here by a sample of giants in t…
In our previous study, we showed that the peculiar globular cluster (GC) M22 contains two distinct stellar populations, namely the Ca-w and Ca-s groups with different physical properties, having different chemical compositions, spatial distributions and kinematics. We proposed that M22 is most likely formed via a merger of two GCs with heterogeneous metallicities in a dwarf galaxy environment and accreted later to our Galaxy. In their recent study, Mucciarelli et al. claimed that M22 is a normal mono-metallic globular cluster without any perceptible metallicity spread among the two groups of s…
We present 21-cm observations of four Galactic globular clusters, as part of the on-going GALFA-HI Survey at Arecibo. We discovered a peculiar HI cloud in the vicinity of the distant (109 kpc) cluster Pal 4, and discuss its properties and likelihood of association with the cluster. We conclude that an association of the HI cloud and Pal 4 is possible, but that a chance coincidence between Pal 4 and a nearby compact high-velocity cloud cannot be ruled out altogether. New, more stringent upper limits were derived for the other three clusters: M 3, NGC 5466, and Pal 13. We briefly discuss the fat…
We present a study of Far Ultraviolet (FUV) bright horizontal branch (HB) stars to understand the peculiarities seen in the HB sequence of the Globular Cluster NGC 1851, using ground and space based multi-wavelength data. Optical and UV color magnitude diagrams are used to classify HB stars and their membership from HST and Gaia DR2 data. The Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the hot HB stars located from the core to tidal radii are constructed. The SEDs reveal that the HB stars near the G-jump show a decrease in the FUV flux when atmospheric models of cluster metallicity are used for fi…
We combine MUSE spectroscopy and Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet (UV) photometry to perform a study of the chemistry and dynamics of the Galactic globular cluster Messier 80 (M80, NGC 6093). Previous studies have revealed three stellar populations that not only vary in their light-element abundances, but also in their radial distributions, with concentration decreasing with increasing nitrogen enrichment. This remarkable trend, which sets M80 apart from the other Galactic globular clusters, points towards a complex formation and evolutionary history. To better understand how M80 formed and …
Thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch models of globular cluster stars are calculated using a synthetic model with the goal of reproducing the chemical composition, core masses and other observational parameters of the four known globular cluster planetary nebulae as well as roughly matching the overall cluster properties. The evolution of stars with an enhanced helium abundance ($Y$) and blue stragglers are modeled. New pre-thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch mass-losses for red giant branch and early asymptotic giant branch stars are calculated from the Padova stellar evolution mod…
Long-lived stars in GCs exhibit chemical peculiarities with respect to their halo counterparts. In particular, Na-enriched stars are identified as belonging to a 2d stellar population born from cluster material contaminated by the H-burning ashes of a 1st stellar population. Their presence and numbers in different locations of the CMDs provide important constraints on the self-enrichment scenarios. In particular, the ratio of Na-poor to Na-rich stars on the AGB has recently been found to vary strongly from cluster to cluster, while it is relatively constant on the RGB. We investigate the impac…
The determination of Li and proton-capture element abundances in globular cluster (GC) giants allows us to constrain several key questions on the multiple population scenarios in GCs, from formation and early evolution, to pollution and dilution mechanisms. In this Letter, we present our results on Li abundances for a large sample of giants in the intermediate-metallicity GC NGC 6121 (M4), for which Na and O have been already determined by Marino et al. The stars analyzed are both below and above the red giant branch bump luminosity. We found that the first and second generation stars share th…
We briefly summarize the impact of the chemical peculiarities associated to the multiple population phenomenon in Galactic Globular Clusters, on the evolutionary properties and spectral energy distribution of second generation stars, in comparison with the primordial stellar component.
We present a detailed analysis of the radial distribution of light-element multiple populations (LE-MPs) in the massive and dense globular cluster M80 based on the combination of UV and optical Hubble Space Telescope data. Surprisingly, we find that first generation stars (FG) are significantly more centrally concentrated than extreme second generation ones (SG) out to $\sim 2.5 r_h$ from the cluster center. To understand the origin of such a peculiar behavior, we used a set of $N$-body simulations following the long-term dynamical evolution of LE-MPs. We find that, given the advanced dynamica…
Ultraviolet observations are the best tool to study hot stellar populations which emit most of their light at short wavelengths. As part of a large project devoted to the characterization of the UV properties of Galactic globular clusters (GGCs), we collected mid/far UV and optical images with the WFPC2@HST for 31 GGCs. These clusters cover a wide range in metallicity and structural parameters, thus representing an ideal sample for comparison with theoretical models. Here we present the first results from an ongoing analysis aimed at deriving the temperature distribution of Horizontal Branch s…
We present new measurements of the magnitude of the main sequence turn off and the red giant branch bump in the luminosity function of a sample of Galactic globular clusters with updated estimates of [Fe/H] and [$α$/Fe], employing photometric data collected with the Advanced Camera for Survey on board the HST. We compare measured and predicted values of the magnitude difference between these two features, a rarely employed diagnostic of the internal structure of low-mass stars at the beginning of their red giant evolution. Our analysis discloses a clear discrepancy between theory and observati…
Metallicity is the first parameter to influence the horizontal branch (HB) morphology of globular clusters (GCs). It has been found, however, that some other parameters may also play an important role in affecting the morphology. While the nature of these important parameters remains unclear, they are believed to be likely correlated with wind mass-loss of red giants, since this mass loss determines their subsequent locations on the HB. Unfortunately, the mass loss during the red giant stages of the stellar evolution is poorly understood at present. The stellar winds of red giants may be tidal…
We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometric results for NGC 6402, a highly reddened very luminous Galactic globular cluster (GC). Recent spectroscopic observations of its red giant stars have shown a quite peculiar behavior in the chemistry of its multiple populations. These results have prompted UV and optical HST observations aimed at obtaining the cluster's "Chromosome map" (ChM), an efficient tool to classify GCs and characterize their multiple populations. We find that the discontinuity in the abundance distributions of O, Mg, Al and Na inferred from spectroscopy is more nuanced i…
Synthetic RGBB magnitudes are generated with the most recent theoretical stellar evolution models computed with the Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Program (DSEP) code. They are compared to the observational work of Nataf et al., who present RGBB magnitudes for 72 globular clusters. A DSEP model using a chemical composition with enhanced $α$ capture [$α$/Fe] $ =+0.4$ and an age of 13 Gyr shows agreement with observations over metallicities ranging from [Fe/H] = $0$ to [Fe/H] $\approx-1.5$, with discrepancy emerging at lower metallicities.
NGC 2419 is a peculiar Galactic globular cluster in terms of size/luminosity, and chemical abundance anomalies. Here, we present Strömgren $uvby$ photometry of the cluster. Using the gravity- and metallicity-sensitive $c_1$ and $m_1$ indices, we identify a sample of likely cluster members extending well beyond the formal tidal radius with an estimated contamination by non-members of only 1%. We derive photometric [Fe/H] of red giants, and depending on which literature metallicity relation we use, find reasonable to excellent agreement with spectroscopic [Fe/H]. We demonstrate explicitly that t…
The impact of metallicity on the mass-loss rate from red giant branch (RGB) stars is studied through its effect on the parameters of horizontal branch (HB) stars. The scaling factors from Reimers (1975) and Schroder & Cuntz (2005) are determined for 56 well-studied Galactic globular clusters (GCs). The median values among clusters are, respectively, η_R = 0.477 +/- 0.070 (+0.050/-0.062) and η_SC = 0.172 +/- 0.024 (+0.018/-0.023) (standard deviation and systematic uncertainties, respectively). Mass-loss mechanisms on the RGB have very little metallicity dependence: over a factor of 200 in iron …
(Abridged) Globular clusters host multiple stellar populations showing different sodium enrichments. These various populations can be observed along the main sequence, red giant and horizontal branch phases. Recently it was shown, however, that at least in the globular cluster NGC 6752, no sodium-rich stars are observed along the early asymptotic giant branch, posing an apparent problem for stellar evolution. We present an explanation for this lack of sodium-rich stars in this region of the colour-magnitude diagram.
We present the effective temperatures, surface gravities and abundances of iron, carbon and barium of 848 giant branch stars, of which 557 also have well-defined nitrogen abundances, of the globular cluster ω Centauri. This work used photometric sources and lower resolution spectra for this abundance analysis. Spectral indices were used to estimate the oxygen abundance of the stars, leading to a determination of whether a particular star was oxygen-rich or oxygen-poor. The 557-star subset was analyzed in the context of evolutionary groups, with four broad groups identified. These groups sugges…
It has recently been suggested that the presence of multiple populations showing various amounts of helium enhancement is the rule, rather than the exception, among globular star clusters. An important prediction of this helium enhancement scenario is that the helium-enhanced blue horizontal branch (HB) stars should be brighter than the red HB stars which are not helium-enhanced. In this Letter, we test this prediction in the case of the Galactic globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), for which the helium-enhancement scenario predicts helium enhancements of > 0.02 in virtually all blue HB stars. Usin…
The horizontal branch (HB) morphology of globular clusters (GCs) is mainly described by metallicity. The fact that some clusters with almost the same metallicity exhibit different HB demonstrates that other parameters are at work. We present results from the analysis of the CMD of 72 GCs obtained with the Advanced Camera for Survey (ACS) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We find a significant correlation between the HB color extension and the mass of the hosting cluster, while the color distance between the HB and the red-giant branch (RGB) depends on metallicity and age. We suggest that ag…
We present the results obtained from the UV photometry of the globular cluster NGC 1261 using Far-UV (FUV) and Near-UV (NUV) images acquired with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard the Astrosat satellite. We utilized the UVIT data combined with HST, GAIA, and ground-based optical photometric data to construct the different UV colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). We detected blue HB (BHB), and two extreme HB (EHB) stars in FUV, whereas full HB, i.e., red HB (RHB), BHB as well as EHB is detected in NUV CMDs. The 2 EHB stars, identified in both NUV and FUV, are confirmed members of the…
We derived chemical abundances for C, N, O, Na, Mg and Al in 20 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752. All these elements (but Mg) show intrinsic star-to-star variations and statistically significant correlations or anticorrelations analogous to those commonly observed in red giant stars of globular clusters hosting multiple populations. This demonstrates that, at odds with previous findings, both first and second generation stars populate the AGB of NGC 6752. The comparison with the Na abundances of red giant branch stars in the same cluster reveals that second …
M22 is an anomalous globular cluster that hosts two groups of stars with different metallicity and s-element abundance. The star-to-star light-element variations in both groups, with the presence of individual Na-O and C-N anticorrelations, demonstrates that this Milky-Way satellite has experienced a complex star-formation history. We have analysed FLAMES/UVES spectra for seven stars covering a small color interval, on the reddest horizontal-branch (HB) portion of this cluster and investigated possible relations between the chemical composition of a star and its location along the HB. Our chem…
We present the first absolute calibration for the yellow post-asymptotic-giant-branch (PAGB) stars in the g- and r-band based on time-series observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility. These absolute magnitudes were calibrated using four yellow PAGB stars (one non-varying star and three Type II Cepheids) located in the globular clusters. We provide two calibrations of the gr-band absolute magnitudes for the yellow PAGB stars, by using an arithmetic mean and a linear regression. We demonstrate that the linear regression provides a better fit to the g-band absolute magnitudes for the yellow…
The globular cluster NGC 288 was previously reported to exhibit two distinct red giant branches (RGBs) in the narrow-band Calcium (HK) and Strömgren b and y band passes. In order to investigate this phenomenon further, we obtained moderate resolution (R$\sim$18,000) spectra of 27 RGB stars in NGC 288 with the Hydra multifiber spectrograph on the Blanco 4m telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. From these data we derive iron ($\langle$[Fe/H]$\rangle$=-1.19; $σ$=0.12), oxygen ($\langle$[O/Fe]$\rangle$=$+$0.25; $σ$=0.13), and sodium ($\langle$[Na/Fe]$\rangle$=$+$0.15; $σ$=0.26) abu…
Nearly all Galactic globular clusters host stars that display characteristic abundance anti-correlations, like the O-rich/Na-poor pattern typical of field halo stars, together with O-poor/Na-rich additional components. A recent spectroscopic investigation questioned the presence of O-poor/Na-rich stars amongst a sample of asymptotic giant branch stars in the cluster M 4, at variance with the spectroscopic detection of a O-poor/Na-rich component along both the cluster red giant branch and horizontal branch. This is contrary to what is expected from the cluster horizontal branch morphology and h…
In the last few years many globular clusters (GCs) have revealed complex color-magnitude diagrams, with the presence of multiple main sequences (MSs), broaden or multiple sub-giant branches (SGBs) and MS turn offs, and broad or split red giant branches (RGBs). After a careful correction for differential reddening, high accuracy photometry with the Hubble Space Telescope presented in this paper reveals a broadened or even split SGB in five additional Milky Way GCs: NGC 362, NGC 5286, NGC 6656, NGC 6715, and NGC 7089. In addition, we confirm (with new and archival HST data) the presence of a spl…
A survey of red giants in the globular cluster M3 with the Hydra multi-object spectrograph on the WIYN 3.5-m telescope indicated a prominent Li I 6707 $Å$ feature in the red giant vZ 1050. Follow-up spectroscopy with the ARC 3.5-m telescope confirmed this observation and yielded a derived abundance of A(Li)$_{NLTE}$ = 1.6 $\pm$ 0.05. In addition, the high oxygen and low sodium abundances measured from the same spectrum suggest that vZ 1050 is a first generation cluster star. The location vZ 1050 above the horizontal branch and blueward of the red giant branch in the cluster's color-magnitude d…
We present a new abundance analysis of HD 55496, previously known as a metal-poor barium star. We found that HD 55496 has a metallicity [Fe/H] $=-1.55$ and is s-process enriched. We find that HD 55496 presents four chemical peculiarities: (i) a Na-O abundance anti-correlation; (ii) it is aluminum rich; (iii) it is carbon poor for a s-process enriched star and (iv) the heavy 2$^{nd}$ s-process peak elements, such as Ba, La, Ce, and Nd, present smaller abundances than the lighter s-process elements, such as Sr, Y and Zr, which is not usually observed among the chemically-peculiar binary stars at…
Among the newly discovered features of multiple stellar populations in Globular Clusters, the cluster NGC 1851 harbours a double subgiant branch, that can be explained in terms of two stellar generations, only slightly differing in age, the younger one having an increased total C+N+O abundance. Thanks to this difference in the chemistry, a fit can be made to the subgiant branches, roughly consistent with the C+N+O abundance variations already discovered two decades ago, and confirmed by recent spectroscopic data. We compute theoretical isochrones for the main sequence turnoff, by adopting four…
We have carried out high-precision photometry on a large number of archival HST images of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6752, to search for signs of multiple stellar populations. We find a broadened main sequence, and demonstrate that this broadening cannot be attributed either to binaries or to photometric errors. There is also some indication of a main-sequence split. No significant spread could be found along the subgiant branch, however. Ground-based photometry reveals that in the U vs. (U-B) color-magnitude diagram the red-giant branch exhibits a clear color spread, which we have been…
A recent study of hot (20,000 to 30,000 K) extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars in globular clusters (GCs) has led to the discovery of their variability. It is suggested that this variability is driven by the projected rotation of magnetic spots on the stellar surfaces and is expected to have higher amplitudes at shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the analysis of such hot stars in the massive GC NGC 2808 using the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), aboard AstroSat. We use the UVIT data in combination with the Hubble Space Telescope UV Globular Cluster Survey (HUGS) data for the central …
The UV-initiative Hubble Space Telescope Treasury survey of Galactic globular clusters provides a new window into the phenomena that shape the morphological features of the horizontal branch (HB). Using this large and homogeneous catalog of UV and blue photometry, we demonstrate that the HB exhibits discontinuities that are remarkably consistent in color (effective temperature). This consistency is apparent even among some of the most massive clusters hosting multiple distinct sub-populations (such as NGC 2808, omega Cen, and NGC 6715), demonstrating that these phenomena are primarily driven b…
We present the first measure of Fe and Na abundances in NGC 6362, a low-mass globular cluster where first and second generation stars are fully spatially mixed. A total of 160 member stars (along the red giant branch and the red horizontal branch) have been observed with the multi-object spectrograph FLAMES at the Very Large Telescope. We find that the cluster has an iron abundance of [Fe/H]=--1.09$\pm$0.01 dex, without evidence of intrinsic dispersion. On the other hand, the [Na/Fe] distribution turns out to be intrinsically broad and bimodal. The Na-poor and Na-rich stars populate, respectiv…
For several decades, globular clusters have been considered the best example of simple stellar populations, hosting coeval and chemical homogeneous stars. The last decade of spectroscopic and photometric studies has revealed a more complex view of their chemical composition, with a high level of homogeneity in their iron content but star-to-star variations in some light elements. This contribution summarizes the main evidence about the chemical anomalies in the stellar content of the globular clusters, discussing also some peculiar objects with intrinsic dispersions in their iron content.
We describe a method by which the abundance of metals and the reddening of globular clusters are simultaneously derived. The method is based on the analysis of the shape of the red giant branch and V magnitude of the horizontal branch on the V vs. (B-R) color-magnitude diagram for a cluster. The application of our technique to the photometry of the globular cluster NGC7006 yields the metallicity $[Fe/H] = - 1.78 \pm0.11$ and the reddening $E_{B-R} = 0.^{m}25 \pm0.^{m}02$.
The red giant branch (RGB) of globular clusters (GCs) is home to some exotic stars, which may provide clues on the formation of multiple stellar populations in GCs. It is well known that binary interactions are responsible for many exotic stars. Thus, it is important to understand what fraction of stars on the RGB of GCs is the result of binary interactions. In this paper, we performed a binary population synthesis study to track the number of post-binary-interaction (post-BI) stars that appear on the RGB, with particular emphasis on the evolved blue straggler stars (E-BSSs). Assuming an initi…
We present radial velocities and chemical abundances for red giant branch stars in the Galactic bulge globular clusters NGC 6342 and NGC 6366. The velocities and abundances are based on measurements of high resolution (R > 20,000) spectra obtained with the MMT-Hectochelle and WIYN-Hydra spectrographs. We find that NGC 6342 has a heliocentric radial velocity of +112.5 km/s (sigma = 8.6 km/s), NGC 6366 has a heliocentric radial velocity of -122.3 km/s (sigma = 1.5 km/s), and that both clusters have nearly identical metallicities ([Fe/H] ~ -0.55). NGC 6366 shows evidence of a moderately extended …
We describe and summarize the findings from our CCD time-series photometry of globular clusters (GCs) program and the use of difference image analysis (DIA) in the extraction of very precise light curves even in the crowded central regions down to $V\sim 19$ mag. We have discovered approximately 250 variable stars in a sample of 23 selected GCs and have, therefore, updated the census of variables in each system and in some cases we have actually completed it down to a certain magnitude. The absolute magnitude and [Fe/H] for each individual RR Lyrae is obtained via the Fourier decomposition of …
Context. Globular clusters are known to host multiple stellar populations, which are a signature of their formation process. The globular cluster E3 is one of the few low-mass globulars that is thought not to host multiple populations. Aims. We investigate red giant branch stars in E3 with the aim of providing a first detailed chemical inventory for this cluster, we determine its radial velocity, and we provide additional insights into the possible presence of multiple populations in this cluster. Methods. We obtained high-resolution FLAMES-UVES/VLT spectra of four red giant branch stars likel…
Helium is a pivotal element in understanding multiple main sequences and extended horizontal branches observed in some globular clusters. Here we present a spectroscopic study of helium in the nearby globular cluster M4. We have obtained spectra of the chromospheric He I 10830 A line in 16 red horizontal branch, red giant branch, and asymptotic giant branch stars. Clear He I absorption or emission is present in most of the stars. Effective temperature is the principal parameter that correlates with 10830 A line strength. Stars with T_eff < 4450 K do not exhibit the helium line. Red horizontal …
Context. NGC 1851 is one of several globular clusters for which multiple stellar populations of the subgiant branch have been clearly identified and a difference in metallicity detected. A crucial piece of information on the formation history of this cluster can be provided by the sum of A(C+N+O) abundances. However, these values have lacked a general consensus thus far. The separation of the subgiant branch can be based on age and/or A(C+N+O) abundance differences. Aims. Our main aim was to determine carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen abundances for evolved giants in the globular cluster NGC1851 in…
Context. Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs) are essential tools to understand the earliest epoch of the Milky Way, since they are among the oldest objects in the Universe and can be used to trace its formation and evolution. Current studies using high resolution spectroscopy for many stars in each of a large sample of GCs allow us to develop a detailed observational picture about their formation and their relation with the Galaxy. However, it is necessary to complete this picture by including GCs that belong to all major Galactic components, including the Bulge. Aims. Our aim is to perform a det…
We present near-IR Colour-Magnitude diagrams and physical parameters for a sample of 12 galactic globular clusters located toward the inner Bulge region. For each cluster we provide measurements of the reddening, distance, photometric metallicity, luminosity of the horizontal branch red clump, and of the red giant branch bump and tip. The sample discussed here together with that presented in Valenti, Ferraro & Origlia (2007) represent the largest homogeneous catalog of Bulge globular clusters (comprising ~ 80% of the entire Bulge cluster population) ever studied. The compilation is available i…
Recent pieces of evidence have revealed that most, and possibly all, globular star clusters are composed of groups of stars that formed in multiple episodes with different chemical compositions. In this sense, it has also been argued that variations in the initial helium abundance ($Y$) from one population to the next are also the rule, rather than the exception. In the case of the metal-intermediate globular cluster M4 (NGC 6121), recent high-resolution spectroscopic observations of blue horizontal branch (HB) stars (i.e., HB stars hotter than the RR Lyrae instability strip) suggest that a la…
Theory and observations indicate that the distribution of stars along the horizontal branch of Galactic globular clusters mainly depends on the metal content. However, the existence of globular clusters with similar metal content and absolute age but different horizontal branch morphologies, suggests the presence of another parameter affecting the star distribution along the branch. To investigate the variation of the horizontal branch morphology in Galactic globular clusters, we define a new photometric horizontal branch morphology index, overcoming some of the limitations and degeneracies af…
Lithium is one of the few elements produced during the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis in the early universe. Moreover, its fragility makes it useful as a proxy for stellar environmental conditions. As such, the lithium abundance in old systems is at the core of different astrophysical problems. Stars in the lower red giant branch allow studying globular clusters where main sequence stars are too faint to be observed. We use these stars to analyze the initial Li content of the clusters and compare it to cosmological predictions, to measure spreads in Li between different stellar populations, and to s…
We have serendipitously identified the first lithium-rich giant star located close to the red giant branch bump in a globular cluster. Through intermediate-resolution FLAMES spectra we derived a lithium abundance of A(Li)=2.55 (assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium), which is extremely high considering the star's evolutionary stage. Kinematic and photometric analysis confirm the object as a member of the globular cluster NGC 362. This is the fourth Li-rich giant discovered in a globular cluster but the only one known to exist at a luminosity close to the bump magnitude. The three previous…
We use results of a survey for low-surface-gravity stars in Galactic (and LMC) globular clusters to show that "yellow" post-asymptotic-giant-branch (yPAGB) stars are likely to be excellent extragalactic standard candles, capable of producing distances to early-type galaxies that are accurate to a few percent. We show that the mean bolometric magnitude of the 10 known yPAGB stars in globular clusters is <Mbol> = -3.38 +/- 0.03, a value that is ~0.2 mag brighter than that predicted from the latest post-horizontal-branch evolutionary tracks. More importantly, we show that the observed dispersion …
Galactic globular clusters (GCs) are known to host multiple stellar populations: a first generation with a chemical pattern typical of halo field stars and a second generation (SG) enriched in Na and Al and depleted in O and Mg. Both stellar generations are found at different evolutionary stages (e.g., the main-sequence turnoff, the subgiant branch, and the red giant branch). The non detection of SG asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in several metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -1) GCs suggests that not all SG stars ascend the AGB phase, and that failed AGB stars may be very common in metal-poor GCs. This…
The leading method for the determination of relevant stellar population parameters of unresolved extragalactic Globular Clusters is through the study of their integrated spectroscopy, where Balmer line-strength indices are considered to be age sensitive. Previously, a splitting in the highly optimised spectral line-strength index H$β_o$ was observed in a sample of Galactic globular clusters at all metallicities resulting in an apparent "upper branch" and "lower branch" of globular clusters in the H$β_o$ - [MgFe] diagram. This was suggested to be caused by the presence of hot Blue straggler sta…
NGC5824 is a massive Galactic globular cluster suspected to have an intrinsic spread in its iron content, according to the strength of the calcium triplet lines. We present chemical abundances of 117 cluster giant stars using high-resolution spectra acquired with the multi-object spectrograph FLAMES. The metallicity distribution of 87 red giant branch stars is peaked at [Fe/H]=-2.11+-0.01 dex, while that derived from 30 asymptotic giant branch stars is peaked at [Fe/H]=-2.20+-0.01 dex. Both the distributions are compatible with a null spread, pointing out that this cluster did not retain the e…
