University of Tasmania
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Chemical abundances in LMC stellar populations I. The inner disk sample

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Version 2 2023-06-23, 11:04
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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-23, 11:04 authored by L Pompeia, V Hill, M Spite, Andrew ColeAndrew Cole, F Primas, M Romaniello, L Pasquini, MR Cioni, T Smecker Hane
Aims.We have used FLAMES (the Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph) at the VLT-UT2 telescope to obtain spectra of a large sample of red giant stars from the inner disk of the LMC, ~2 kpc from the center of the galaxy. We investigate the chemical abundances of key elements to understand the star formation and evolution of the LMC disk: heavy and light [ -process/Fe] and [ α/Fe] give constraints on the time scales of formation of the stellar population. Cu, Na, Sc, and the iron-peak elements are also studied aiming to better understand the build up of the elements of this population and the origin of these elements. We aim to provide a more complete picture of the LMC's evolution by compiling a large sample of field star abundances.Methods.LTE abundances were derived using line spectrum synthesis or equivalent width analysis. We used OSMARCS model atmospheres and an updated line list.Results.We find that the alpha-elements Ca, Si, and Ti show lower [X/Fe] ratios than Galactic stars at the same [Fe/H], with most [Ca/Fe] being subsolar. The [O/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] ratios are slightly deficient, with Mg showing some overlap with the Galactic distribution, while Sc and Na follow the underabundant behavior of Ca, with subsolar distributions. For the light -process elements Y and Zr, we find underabundant values compared to their Galactic counterparts. The [La/Fe] ratios are slightly overabundant relative to the galactic pattern showing low scatter, while the [Ba/Fe] are enhanced, with a slight increasing trend for metallicities [ Fe/H -1$]] dex. The [ heavy-/light-] ratios are high, showing a slow, increasing trend with metallicity. We were surprised to find an offset for three of the iron-peak elements. We found an offset for the [iron-peak/Fe] ratios of Ni, Cr, and Co, with an underabundant pattern and subsolar values, while Vanadium ratios track the solar value. Copper shows very low abundances in our sample for all metallicities, compatible with those of the Galaxy only for the most metal-poor stars. The overall chemical distributions of this LMC sample indicates a slower star formation history relative to that of the solar neighborhood, with a higher contribution from type Ia supernovae relative to type II supernovae. © 2008 ESO.

History

Publication title

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Volume

480

Issue

2

Article number

2

Number

2

Pagination

379-395

ISSN

0004-6361

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

EDP Sciences S A

Publication status

  • Published

Rights statement

Copyright ESO 2008

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

280120 Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences