Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userGalactic Globular Cluster Relative Ages
80
0
0.0
(
0
)
Authors
A. Rosenberg
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
Based on a new large, homogeneous photometric database of 35 Galactic globular clusters (GGCs), a set of distance and reddening independent relative age indicators has been measured. The observed D(V-I)_2.5 and D(V)(HB-TO) vs. metallicity relations have been compared with the relations predicted by two recent updated libraries of isochrones. Using these models and two independent methods, we have found that self-consistent relative ages can be estimated for our GGC sample. Based on the relative age vs. metallicity distribution, we conclude that: (a) there is no evidence of an age spread for clusters with [Fe/H]<-1.2, all the clusters of our sample in this range being old and coeval; (b) for the intermediate metallicity group (-1.2<=[Fe/H]<-0.9) there is a clear evidence of age dispersion, with clusters up to ~25% younger than the older members; and (c) the clusters within the metal rich group ([Fe/H]>=-0.9) seem to be coeval within the uncertainties (except Pal12), but younger (~17%) than the bulk of the Galactic globulars. The latter result is totally model dependent. From the distribution of the GGC ages with the Galactocentric distance, we can present a possible scenario for the Milky Way formation: The GC formation process started at the same zero age throughout the halo, at least out to ~20 kpc from the Galactic center. According to the present stellar evolution models, the metal-rich globulars are formed at a later time (~ 17% lower age). And finally, significantly younger halo GGCs are found at any R(GC)>8 kpc. For these, a possible scenario associated with mergers of dwarf galaxies to the Milky Way is suggested.
rate research
Read More
We present accurate relative ages for a sample of 55 Galactic globular clusters. The ages have been obtained by measuring the difference between the horizontal branch and the turnoff in two, internally photometrically homogeneous databases. The mutual consistency of the two data sets has been assessed by comparing the ages of 16 globular clusters in common between the two databases. We have also investigated the consistency of our relative age determination within the recent stellar model framework. All clusters with [Fe/H]<-1.7 are found to be old, and coeval, with the possible exception of two objects, which are marginally younger. The age dispersion for the metal poor clusters is 0.6 Gyr (rms), consistent with a null age dispersion. Intermediate metallicity clusters (-1.7<[Fe/H]<-0.8) are on average 1.5 Gyr younger than the metal poor ones, with an age dispersion of 1.0 Gyr (rms), and a total age range of ~3 Gyr. About 15% of the intermediate metallicity clusters are coeval with the oldest clusters. All the clusters with [Fe/H]>-0.8 are ~1 Gyr younger than the most metal poor ones, with a relatively small age dispersion, though the metal rich sample is still too small to allow firmer conclusions. There is no correlation of the cluster age with the Galactocentric distance. We briefly discuss the implication of these observational results for the formation history of the Galaxy.
Globular clusters are the oldest conglomerates of stars in our Galaxy and can be useful laboratories to test theories from stellar evolution to cosmology. In this paper, we present a new method to estimate the absolute age of a globular cluster from observations of its brown dwarfs. The transition region between the end of the main sequence and the brown dwarf regime is characterized by a dearth of objects as function of magnitude. The brightest of the cooling brown dwarfs is easily identified by an increase in density in the color-magnitude diagram as you go fainter in magnitudes, and these brightest brown dwarfs get fainter with age. By identifying the brightest brown dwarfs, it is thus possible to determine the age of a globular cluster within a 1 Gyr precision with four-sigma confidence. This new method, which is independent of current methods of age estimation and which does not rely on the knowledge of the clusters distance from Earth, will become feasible thanks to the high spatial resolution and incredible infrared sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope.
We report time-series photometry for 55 variable stars located in the central part of the globular cluster M55. The sample includes 28 newly identified objects of which 13 are eclipsing binaries. Three of these are detached systems located in the turn-off region on the cluster color-magnitude diagram. Two of them are proper motion (PM) members of M55 and are excellent candidates for a detailed follow-up study aimed at a determination of the cluster age and distance. Other detached binaries are located along the unevolved part of the cluster main sequence. Most of the variables are cluster blue straggler stars. This group includes 35 SX Phe stars, two contact binaries, and one semi-detached binary. V60 is a low mass, short period algol with the less massive and cooler component filling its Roche lobe. The more massive component is an SX Phe variable. The orbital period of V60 increases at a rate of dP/P=3.0E-9. In addition to numerous variable blue stragglers we also report the detection of two red stragglers showing periodic variability. Both of these are PM members of M55. We note and discuss the observed paucity of contact binaries among unevolved main sequence stars in M55 and NGC 6752. This apparent paucity supports an evolution model in which the formation of contact binaries is triggered by stellar evolution at the main-sequence turn off.
Old Globular Clusters (GCs) in the Milky Way have ages of about 13 Gyr, placing their formation time in the reionization epoch. We propose a novel scenario for the formation of these systems based on the merger of two or more atomic cooling halos at high-redshift (z>6). First generation stars are formed as an intense burst in the center of a minihalo that grows above the threshold for hydrogen cooling (halo mass M_h~10^8 Msun) by undergoing a major merger within its cooling timescale (~150 Myr). Subsequent minor mergers and sustained gas infall bring new supply of pristine gas at the halo center, creating conditions that can trigger new episodes of star formation. The dark-matter halo around the GC is then stripped during assembly of the host galaxy halo. Minihalo merging is efficient only in a short redshift window, set by the LCDM parameters, allowing us to make a strong prediction on the age distribution for old GCs. From cosmological simulations we derive an average merging redshift <z>=9 and narrow distribution Dz=2, implying average GC age <t_age>=13.0+/-0.2 Gyr including ~0.2 Gyr of star formation delay. Qualitatively, our scenario reproduces other general old GC properties (characteristic masses and number of objects, metallicity versus galactocentric radius anticorrelation, radial distribution), but unlike age, these generally depend on details of baryonic physics. In addition to improved age measurements, direct validation of the model at z~10 may be within reach of ultradeep gravitationally lensed observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.
We present distance modulus and reddening determinations for 72 Galactic globular clusters from the homogeneous photometric database of Piotto et al. (2002), calibrated to the HST flight F439W and F555W bands. The distances have been determined by comparison with theoretical absolute magnitudes of the ZAHB. For low and intermediate metallicity clusters, we have estimated the apparent Zero Age Horizontal Branch (ZAHB) magnitude from the RR Lyrae level. For metal rich clusters, the ZAHB magnitude was obtained from the fainter envelope of the red HB. Reddenings have been estimated by comparison of the HST colour-magnitude diagrams (CMD) with ground CMDs of low reddening template clusters. The homogeneity of both the photometric data and the adopted methodological approach allowed us to obtain highly accurate relative cluster distances and reddenings. Our results are also compared with recent compilations in the literature.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
