No Arabic abstract
High resolution optical and ultraviolet spectra of two B-type post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars in globular clusters, Barnard 29 in M 13 and ROA 5701 in omega Cen, have been analysed using model atmosphere techniques. The optical spectra have been obtained with FEROS on the ESO 2.2-m telescope and the 2d-Coude spectrograph on the 2.7-m McDonald telescope, while the ultraviolet observations are from the GHRS on the HST. Abundances of light elements (C, N, O, Mg, Al and S) plus Fe have been determined from the optical spectra, while the ultraviolet data provide additional Fe abundance estimates from Fe III absorption lines in the 1875-1900 {AA} wavelength region. A general metal underabundance relative to young B-type stars is found for both Barnard 29 and ROA 5701. These results are consistent with the metallicities of the respective clusters, as well as with previous studies of the objects. The derived abundance patterns suggest that the stars have not undergone a gas-dust separation, contrary to previous suggestions, although they may have evolved from the AGB before the onset of the third dredge-up. However, the Fe abundances derived from the HST spectra are lower than those expected from the metallicities of the respective clusters, by 0.5 dex for Barnard 29 and 0.8 dex for ROA 5701. A similar systematic underabundance is also found for other B-type stars in environments of known metallicity, such as the Magellanic Clouds. These results indicate that the Fe III ultraviolet lines may yield abundance values which are systematically too low by typically 0.6 dex and hence such estimates should be treated with caution.
We present measurements of the neutron-capture elements Rb and Pb in five giant stars of the globular cluster NGC 6752 and Pb measurements in four giants of the globular cluster M 13. The abundances were derived by comparing synthetic spectra with high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra obtained using HDS on the Subaru telescope and MIKE on the Magellan telescope. The program stars span the range of the O-Al abundance variation. In NGC 6752, the mean abundances are [Rb/Fe] = -0.17 +/- 0.06 (sigma = 0.14), [Rb/Zr] = -0.12 +/- 0.06 (sigma = 0.13), and [Pb/Fe] = -0.17 +/- 0.04 (sigma = 0.08). In M 13 the mean abundance is [Pb/Fe] = -0.28 +/- 0.03 (sigma = 0.06). Within the measurement uncertainties, we find no evidence for a star-to-star variation for either Rb or Pb within these clusters. None of the abundance ratios [Rb/Fe], [Rb/Zr], or [Pb/Fe] are correlated with the Al abundance. NGC 6752 may have slightly lower abundances of [Rb/Fe] and [Rb/Zr] compared to the small sample of field stars at the same metallicity. For M 13 and NGC 6752 the Pb abundances are in accord with predictions from a Galactic chemical evolution model. If metal-poor intermediate-mass asymptotic giant branch stars did produce the globular cluster abundance anomalies, then such stars do not synthesize significant quantities of Rb or Pb. Alternatively, if such stars do synthesize large amounts of Rb or Pb, then they are not responsible for the abundance anomalies seen in globular clusters.
Multiple stellar populations (MPs) are a distinct characteristic of Globular Clusters (GCs). Their general properties have been widely studied among main sequence, red giant branch (RGB) and horizontal branch (HB) stars, but a common framework is still missing at later evolutionary stages. We studied the MP phenomenon along the AGB sequences in 58 GCs, observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in ultraviolet (UV) and optical filters. By using UV-optical color-magnitude diagrams, we selected the AGB members of each cluster and identified the AGB candidates of the metal-enhanced population in type II GCs. We studied the photometric properties of AGB stars and compared them to theoretical models derived from synthetic spectra analysis. We observe the following features: i) the spread of AGB stars in photometric indices sensitive to variations of light-elements and helium is typically larger than that expected from photometric errors; ii) the fraction of metal-enhanced stars in the AGB is lower than in the RGB in most of the type II GCs; iii) the fraction of 1G stars derived from the chromosome map of AGB stars in 15 GCs is larger than that of RGB stars; v) the AGB/HB frequency correlates with the average mass of the most helium-enriched population. These findings represent a clear evidence of the presence of MPs along the AGB of Galactic GCs and indicate that a significant fraction of helium-enriched stars, which have lower mass in the HB, does not evolve to the AGB phase, leaving the HB sequence towards higher effective temperatures, as predicted by the AGB-manque scenario.
We present Mg isotope ratios in 4 red giants of the globular cluster M 13 and 1 red giant of the globular cluster M 71 based on spectra obtained with HDS on the Subaru Telescope. We confirm earlier results by Shetrone that for M 13, the ratio varies from (25+26)Mg/24Mg = 1 in stars with the highest Al abundance to (25+26)Mg/24Mg = 0.2 in stars with the lowest Al abundance. However, we separate the contributions of all three isotopes and find a spread in the ratio 24Mg:25Mg:26Mg with values ranging from 48:13:39 to 78:11:11. As in NGC 6752, we find a positive correlation between 26Mg and Al, an anticorrelation between 24Mg and Al, and no correlation between 25Mg and Al. In M 71, our one star has a ratio 70:13:17. For both clusters, the lowest ratios of 25Mg/24Mg and 26Mg/24Mg exceed those observed in field stars at the same metallicity, a result also found in NGC 6752. The contribution of 25Mg to the total Mg abundance is constant within a given cluster and between clusters with 25Mg/(24+25+26)Mg = 0.13. For M 13 and NGC 6752, the ranges of the Mg isotope ratios are similar and both clusters show the same correlations between Al and Mg isotopes suggesting that the same process is responsible for the abundance variations in these clusters. While existing models fail to reproduce all the observed abundances, we continue to favor the scenario in which two generations of AGB stars produce the observed abundances. A first generation of metal-poor AGB stars pollutes the entire cluster and is responsible for the large ratios of 25Mg/24Mg and 26Mg/24Mg observed in cluster stars with compositions identical to field stars at the same metallicity. Differing degrees of pollution by a second generation of AGB stars of the same metallicity as the cluster provides the star-to-star scatter in Mg isotope ratios.
Luminous Galactic OH/IR stars have been identified as massive (>4-5 M_s) AGB stars experiencing HBB and Li production. Their Rb abundances and [Rb/Zr] ratios derived from hydrostatic model atmospheres, are significantly higher than predictions from AGB nucleosynthesis models, posing a problem to our understanding of AGB evolution and nucleosynthesis. We report new Rb and Zr abundances in the full sample of massive Galactic AGB stars, previously studied with hydrostatic models, by using more realistic extended model atmospheres. We use a modified version of the spectral synthesis code Turbospectrum and consider the presence of a circumstellar envelope and radial wind. The Rb and Zr abundances are determined from the 7800 A Rb I resonant line and the 6474 A ZrO bandhead, respectively, and we explore the sensitivity of the derived abundances to variations of the stellar (Teff) and wind (M_loss, beta and vexp) parameters in the extended models. The Rb and Zr abundances derived from the best spectral fits are compared with the most recent AGB nucleosynthesis theoretical models. The new Rb abundances are much lower (even 1-2 dex) than those derived with the hydrostatic models, while the Zr abundances are similar. The Rb I line profile and Rb abundance are very sensitive to the M_loss rate but much less sensitive to variations of the wind velocity-law and the vexp(OH). We confirm the earlier preliminary results based on a smaller sample of massive O-rich AGB stars, that the use of extended atmosphere models can solve the discrepancy between the AGB nucleosynthesis theoretical models and the observations of Galactic massive AGB stars. The Rb abundances, however, are still strongly dependent of the M_loss, which is unknown in these AGB stars. Accurate M_loss rates in these massive Galactic AGB stars are needed in order to break the models degeneracy and get reliable Rb abundances in these stars.
We present new optical broad-band (UBVRI) aperture polarimetric observations of 53 post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars selected to exhibit a large near-infrared excess. 24 out of the 53 stars (45% of our sample) are presented for the first time. A statistical analysis shows four distinctive groups of polarized post-AGB stars: unpolarized or very lowly polarized (degree of polarization or DoP < 1%), lowly polarized (1% < DoP < 4%), moderately polarized (4% < DoP < 8%) and highly polarized (DoP > 8%). 23 out of the 53 (66%) belong to the first group, 10 (19%) to the second, five (9%) to the third and only three (6%) to the last group. Approximately, 34% of our sample was found to be unpolarized objects, which is close to the percentage of round planetary nebulae. On average, the low and moderate groups show a wavelength-dependent polarization that increases towards shorter wavelength, implying an intrinsic origin of the polarization, which signifies a Rayleigh-like scattering spectrum typical for non-symmetrical envelopes composed principally of small dust grains. The moderately polarized stars exhibit higher K-W3 and W1-W3 colour indices compared with the group of lowly polarized stars suggesting a possible relation between DoP and mass-loss rate. Moreover, they are found to be systematically colder (redder in B-V), which may be associated with the condensation process close to these stars that results in higher degree of polarization. We also provide evidence that multiple scattering in optically thin polar outflows is the mechanism that gives high DoP in post-AGB stars with a bipolar or multi-polar envelopes.