2008/06/01 by David Yong, Frank Grundahl, Jennifer A. Johnson +1 · 141 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Abundance (ecology) #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Cluster (spacecraft) #Globular cluster #Nitrogen #Spectral line #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/590658
published in The Astrophysical Journal 684(2), 1159-1169 (IOP Publishing) · Accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2008/06/01 · openalex publication_date 2008/09/04 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present N abundances for 21 bright giants in the globular cluster NGC 6752 based on high-resolution UVES spectra of the 3360 Å NH lines. We confirm that the Strömgren c 1 index traces the N abundance and find that the star-to-star N abundance variation is 1.95 dex, at the sample's luminosity. We find statistically significant correlations, but small-amplitude variations, between the abundances of N and α-, Fe-peak, and s -process elements. Analyses using model atmospheres with appropriate N, O, Na, and Al abundances would strengthen, rather than mute, these correlations. If the small variations of heavy elements are real, then the synthesis of the N anomalies must take place in stars which also synthesize α-, Fe-peak, and s -process elements. These correlations offer support for contributions from both asymptotic giant branch and massive stars to the globular cluster abundance anomalies.