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Register a new userDiscovery of a double Blue Straggler sequence in M15: new insight into the core-collapse process
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In this paper we report on the discovery of a double blue straggler star (BSS) sequence in the core of the core-collapsed cluster M15 (NGC 7078). We performed a detailed photometric analysis of the extremely dense core of the cluster using a set of images secured with the Advanced Camera for Survey in the High Resolution Channel mode on-board the Hubble Space Telescope. The proper combination of the large number of single frames in the near-UV (F220W), and blue (F435W) filters allowed us to perform a superb modeling of the Point Spread Function and an accurate deblending procedure. The Color-Magnitude diagram revealed the presence of two distinct parallel sequences of blue stragglers. In particular, the blue BSS sequence is characterized by the intriguing presence of two different branches. The first branch appears extremely narrow, it extends up to 2.5 magnitudes brighter than the cluster main-sequence turnoff (MS-TO) point, and it is nicely reproduced by a 2 Gyr-old collisional isochrone. The second branch extends up to 1.5 magnitudes from the MS-TO and it is reproduced by a 5.5 Gyr-old collisional isochrone. Our observations suggest that each of these branches is mainly constituted by a population of nearly coeval collisional BSS of different masses generated during two episodes of high collisional activity. We discuss the possibility that the oldest episode corresponds to the core-collapse event (occurred about 5.5 Gyr ago), while the most recent one (occurred about 2 Gyr ago) is associated with a core oscillation in the post-core collapse evolution. The discovery of these features provides further strong evidence in support of the connection between the BSS properties and GC dynamical evolution, and it opens new perspectives on the study of core-collapse and post core-collapse evolution.
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Li et al. (2018a; Li18a) claimed that the young stellar cluster NGC2173 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) harbours a bifurcated sequence of blue straggler stars (BSSs), similar to those detected in a few dynamically old globular clusters. However, Dalessandro et al. (2019; D19) re-analyzed the data by taking into account the contamination of the cluster population from LMC field stars, which was completely neglected by L18a. D19 showed that $sim40%$ of the selected BSS sample (and especially the population observed along one of the two sequences) is composed of field star interlopers, concluding that the double BSS sequence is most likely a field contamination artefact. In a recent note Li et al. (2018b) argued that the analysis by D19 is affected by two issues related to (1) the use of different HST instruments/filters in the decontamination procedure, and (2) a presumed overestimate of the number of field stars, which show a central radial segregation. Here we demonstrate that the D19 decontamination procedure is completely unaffected by the use of different HST instruments, and that, the field stars removed by D19 have no significant radial segregation toward the cluster center. Hence, we confirm that the claimed double sequence is just a field contamination artefact.
Here we discuss the case of the double Blue Straggler Star (BSS) sequence recently detected in the young stellar cluster NGC 2173 in the Large Magellanic Cloud by Li et al (2018). In order to investigate this feature we made use of two HST sets of observations, one (the same one used by Li et al.) probing the cluster central regions, and the other sampling the surrounding field. We demonstrate that when field star decontamination is applied, ~40% of BSS population selected by Li et al. turns out to be composed by field stars interlopers. This contamination mainly affects one of the two sequences, which therefore disappears in the decontaminated colour-magnitude diagram. We analyse the result of tens different decontamination realisations: in none of them we find evidence of a double BSS sequence. Hence we conclude that NGC 2173 harbours a normal single (poorly populated) BSS sequence and that particular care needs to be devoted to the field decontamination process in any study aimed at probing stellar population features or star counts in the LMC clusters.
We used high-quality images acquired with the WFC3 on board the HST to probe the blue straggler star (BSS) population of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 362. We have found two distinct sequences of BSS: this is the second case, after M 30, where such a feature has been observed. Indeed the BSS location, their extension in magnitude and color and their radial distribution within the cluster nicely resemble those observed in M 30, thus suggesting that the same interpretative scenario can be applied: the red BSS sub-population is generated by mass transfer binaries, the blue one by collisions. The discovery of four new W UMa stars, three of which lying along the red-BSS sequence, further supports this scenario. We also found that the inner portion of the density profile deviates from a King model and is well reproduced by either a mild power-law (alpha -0.2) or a double King profile. This feature supports the hypothesis that the cluster is currently undergoing the core collapse phase. Moreover, the BSS radial distribution shows a central peak and monotonically decreases outward without any evidence of an external rising branch. This evidence is a further indication of the advanced dynamical age of NGC 362: in fact, together with M 30, NGC 362 belongs to the family of dynamically old clusters (Family III) in the dynamical clock classification proposed by Ferraro et al. (2012). The observational evidence presented here strengthens the possible connection between the existence of a double BSS sequence and a quite advanced dynamical status of the parent cluster.
Blue straggler stars are exotic objects present in all stellar environments whose nature and formation channels are still partially unclear. They seem to be particularly abundant in open clusters (OCs), thus offering a unique chance to tackle these problems statistically.We aim to build up a new and homogeneous catalogue of blue straggler stars (BSS) in Galactic OCs using Gaia to provide a more solid assessment of the membership of these stars. We also aim to explore possible relationships of the straggler abundance with the parent clusters structural and dynamical parameters. As a by-product, we also search for possible yellow straggler stars (YSS), which are believed to be stragglers in a more advanced evolution stage. We employed photometry, proper motions, and parallaxes extracted from Gaia DR2 for 408 Galactic star clusters and searched for stragglers within them after performing a careful membership analysis. The number of BBS emerging from our more stringent, selection criteria turns out to be significantly smaller than in previo
High-resolution spectroscopy of stars on the red giant branch (RGB) of the globular cluster M15 has revealed a large (~1 dex) dispersion in the abundances of r-process elements, like Ba and Eu. Neutron star mergers (NSMs) have been proposed as a major source of the r-process. However, most NSM models predict a delay time longer than the timescale for cluster formation. One possibility is that a NSM polluted the surfaces of stars in M15 long after the cluster finished forming. In this case, the abundances of the polluting elements would decrease in the first dredge-up as stars turn on to the RGB. We present Keck/DEIMOS abundances of Ba in 66 stars along the entire RGB and the top of the main sequence. The Ba abundances have no trend with stellar luminosity (evolutionary phase). Therefore, the stars were born with the Ba they have today, and Ba did not originate in a source with a delay time longer than the timescale for cluster formation. In particular, if the source of Ba was a neutron star merger, it would have had a very short delay time. Alternatively, if Ba enrichment took place before the formation of the cluster, an inhomogeneity of a factor of 30 in Ba abundance needs to be able to persist over the length scale of the gas cloud that formed M15, which is unlikely.
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