The Gaia-ESO Survey: Low-α element stars in the Galactic bulge

Zaggia, S.; Morbidelli, L.; Lardo, C.; Monaco, L.; Jofré, P.; Bragaglia, A.; Carraro, G.; Allende Prieto, C.; Alfaro, E.; Randich, S.; Gilmore, G.; Babusiaux, C.; Robin, A. C.; Fernández-Trincado, J. G.; Zoccali, M.; Hill, V.; Mikolaitis, S.; de Laverny, P.; Recio-Blanco, A.; Rojas-Arriagada, A.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 602, id.L14, 6 pp.

Advertised on:
6
2017
Number of authors
20
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
36
Refereed citations
33
Description
We take advantage of the Gaia-ESO Survey iDR4 bulge data to search for abundance anomalies that could shed light on the composite nature of the Milky Way bulge. The α-element (Mg, Si, and whenever available, Ca) abundances, and their trends with Fe abundances have been analysed for a total of 776 bulge stars. In addition, the aluminum abundances and their ratio to Fe and Mg have also been examined. Our analysis reveals the existence of low-α element abundance stars with respect to the standard bulge sequence in the [α/ Fe] versus [Fe/H] plane. Eighteen objects present deviations in [α/ Fe] ranging from 2.1 to 5.3σ with respect to the median standard value. Those stars do not show Mg-Al anti-correlation patterns. Incidentally, this sign of the existence of multiple stellar populations is reported firmly for the first time for the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522. The identified low-α abundance stars have chemical patterns that are compatible with those of the thin disc. Their link with massive dwarf galaxies accretion seems unlikely, as larger deviations in α abundance and Al would be expected. The vision of a bulge composite nature and a complex formation process is reinforced by our results. The approach used, which is a multi-method and model-driven analysis of high resolution data, seems crucial to reveal this complexity. Based on data products from observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under programme ID 188.B-3002. These data products have been processed by the Cambridge Astronomy Survey Unit (CASU) at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, and by the FLAMES/UVES reduction team at INAF/Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri. These data have been obtained from the Gaia-ESO Survey Data Archive, and prepared and hosted by the Wide Field Astronomy Unit, Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, which is funded by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.
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Allende Prieto