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Potassium in globular cluster stars: Comparing normal clusters to the peculiar cluster NGC 2419

E. Carretta, R. G. Gratton, A. Bragaglia, V. D'Orazi, S. Lucatello, A. Sollima, C. Sneden

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    Abstract

    Two independent studies recently uncovered two distinct populations among giants in the distant, massive globular cluster (GC) NGC 2419. One of these populations has normal magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) abundances for halo stars: enhanced Mg and roughly solar K. The other population has extremely depleted Mg and very enhanced K. To better anchor the peculiar NGC 2419 chemical composition, we have investigated the behavior of K in a few red giant branch stars in NGC 6752, NGC 6121, NGC 1904, and ω Cen. To verify that the high K abundances are intrinsic and not due to some atmospheric features in giants, we also derived K abundances in less evolved turn-off and subgiant stars of clusters 47 Tuc, NGC 6752, NGC 6397, and NGC 7099. We normalized the K abundance as a function of the cluster metallicity using 21 field stars analyzed in a homogeneous manner. For all GCs of our sample, the stars lie in the K-Mg abundance plane on the same locus occupied by the Mg-normal population in NGC 2419 and by field stars. This holds for both giants and less-evolved stars. At present, NGC 2419 seems unique among GCs.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number40
    Pages (from-to)1-9
    Number of pages9
    JournalThe Astrophysical Journal
    Volume769
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 20 May 2013

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright 2013 the American Astronomical Society. First published in the
    Astrophysical journal, 769(1), 40, 2013, published by IOP Publishing. The
    original publication is available at http://www.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/769/1/40. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the
    permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further
    rights please contact the publisher.

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