Bibcode
Gonzalez, O. A.; Rejkuba, M.; Zoccali, M.; Hill, V.; Battaglia, G.; Babusiaux, C.; Minniti, D.; Barbuy, B.; Alves-Brito, A.; Renzini, A.; Gomez, A.; Ortolani, S.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 530, id.A54, 12 pp.
Advertised on:
6
2011
Journal
Citations
164
Refereed citations
146
Description
Aims: We present the analysis of the [α/Fe] abundance
ratios for a large number of stars at several locations in the Milky Way
bulge with the aim of constraining its formation scenario.
Methods: We obtained FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectra (R = 22 500) at the ESO Very
Large Telescope for 650 bulge red giant branch (RGB) stars and performed
spectral synthesis to measure Mg, Ca, Ti, and Si abundances. This sample
is composed of 474 giant stars observed in 3 fields along the minor axis
of the Galactic bulge and at latitudes b = -4°, b = -6°, b =
-12°. Another 176 stars belong to a field containing the globular
cluster NGC 6553, located at b = -3° and 5° away from the other
three fields along the major axis. Stellar parameters and metallicities
for these stars were presented in Zoccali et al. (2008, A&A, 486,
177). We have also re-derived stellar parameters and abundances for the
sample of thick and thin disk red giants analyzed in Alves-Brito et al.
(2010, A&A, 513, A35). Therefore using a homogeneous abundance
database for the bulge, thick and thin disk, we have performed a
differential analysis minimizing systematic errors, to compare the
formation scenarios of these Galactic components. Results: Our
results confirm, with large number statistics, the chemical similarity
between the Galactic bulge and thick disk, which are both enhanced in
alpha elements when compared to the thin disk. In the same context, we
analyze [α/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] trends across different bulge regions.
The most metal rich stars, showing low [α/Fe] ratios at b =
-4° disappear at higher Galactic latitudes in agreement with the
observed metallicity gradient in the bulge. Metal-poor stars ([Fe/H]
< -0.2) show a remarkable homogeneity at different bulge locations.
Conclusions: We have obtained further constrains for the
formation scenario of the Galactic bulge. A metal-poor component
chemically indistinguishable from the thick disk hints for a fast and
early formation for both the bulge and the thick disk. Such a component
shows no variation, neither in abundances nor kinematics, among
different bulge regions. A metal-rich component showing low [α/Fe]
similar to those of the thin disk disappears at larger latitudes. This
allows us to trace a component formed through fast early mergers
(classical bulge) and a disk/bar component formed on a more extended
timescale.
Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory,
Paranal, Chile (ESO programmes 071.B-0617 and 073.B-0074.Full Table 4 is
only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr
(130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/530/A54