Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters

We present photometry on the Washington system for 125 stars in 10 of the most metal-poor Galactic globular clusters. Luminosity class, temperature, and metal abundance are derived for each star. A new temperature calibration is presented, based on recent model atmosphere calculations by Bell &...

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Autores principales: Geisler, D., Minniti, D., Clariá, J.J.
Formato: Articulo Comunicacion
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: 1992
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/144800
Aporte de:
id I19-R120-10915-144800
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Español
topic Astronomía
Galaxia
spellingShingle Astronomía
Galaxia
Geisler, D.
Minniti, D.
Clariá, J.J.
Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
topic_facet Astronomía
Galaxia
description We present photometry on the Washington system for 125 stars in 10 of the most metal-poor Galactic globular clusters. Luminosity class, temperature, and metal abundance are derived for each star. A new temperature calibration is presented, based on recent model atmosphere calculations by Bell & Gustafsson [MNRAS, 236, 653 (1989)]. Metal abundances are determined utilizing a recently improved calibration which corrects for the decreased metallicity sensitivity of cooler giants and introduces a new temperature index, which significantly reduces the effects of photometric errors and reddening uncertainties in determining abundances for very metal-poor stars. Nevertheless, the derived abundances are rather uncertain due to the high reddening and photometric error sensitivities of the system for cool, metal-poor stars and because reddening are large and/or poorly known for several of the clusters. For NGC 6397, M15, M30, and M55, the abundances are well determined (uncertainties of 0.2-0.3 dex, including internal and reddening errors) and in very good agreement with the abundance scale of Zinn [ApJ 293, 424 (1985)]. For five other clusters, including M68 and NGC 2298, 4833, 5897, and 6101, we derive metallicities that are substantially less than those given by Zinn, although the uncertainties are larger, typically 0.3-0.5 dex. The discrepancies are particularly significant for NGC 5897 and 6101, which have small and relatively well-determined reddenings and derived metallicities as much as 0.8 dex lower than nominal values, with [Fe/H] — -2.5. Since the Washington and Zinn metallicity scales are shown to be in good overall agreement, we discuss in detail possible reasons for the individual discrepancies. Reddening and photometric errors, and expected errors in the respective calibrations, can account for most of these, although we cannot rule out the possibility that at least several of these clusters are indeed substantially more metal deficient than previously indicated. The likelihood of intermediate metallicities for some of the discrepant clusters is discussed. Confirmation of the metal abundances of these clusters must await the results of detailed spectroscopic studies now underway. We also derive new (B-V)_{0,g} values for a large sample of meta-pool clusters and show that this parameter loses abundance sensitivity below [Fe/H] ∼ -1.85, regardless of the metallicity scale used for (B-V)_{0,g} source. This paper appeared in The Astronomical Journal, Vol. 104, pp. 627-644.
format Articulo
Comunicacion
author Geisler, D.
Minniti, D.
Clariá, J.J.
author_facet Geisler, D.
Minniti, D.
Clariá, J.J.
author_sort Geisler, D.
title Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
title_short Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
title_full Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
title_fullStr Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
title_full_unstemmed Washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
title_sort washington photometry of globular cluster giants: the most metal-poor clusters
publishDate 1992
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/144800
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