Cover Image

Metal mixing in the r-process enhanced ultrafaint dwarf galaxy reticulum II

Show other versions (2)

The ultrafaint dwarf galaxy Reticulum II was enriched by a single rare and prolific r-process event. The r-process content of Reticulum II thus provides a unique opportunity to study metal mixing in a relic first galaxy. Using multi-object high-resolution spectroscopy with VLT/GIRAFFE and Magellan/M...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ji, Alexander (Author) , Simon, Joshua D. (Author) , Roederer, Ian U. (Author) , Magg, Ekaterina (Author) , Frebel, Anna (Author) , Johnson, Christian I. (Author) , Klessen, Ralf S. (Author) , Magg, Mattis (Author) , Cescutti, Gabriele (Author) , Mateo, Mario (Author) , Bergemann, Maria (Author) , Bailey, John I. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2023 February 13
In: The astronomical journal
Year: 2023, Volume: 165, Issue: 3, Pages: 1-28
ISSN:1538-3881
DOI:10.3847/1538-3881/acad84
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/acad84
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/acad84
Get full text
Author Notes:Alexander P. Ji, Joshua D. Simon, Ian U. Roederer, Ekaterina Magg, Anna Frebel, Christian I. Johnson, Ralf S. Klessen, Mattis Magg, Gabriele Cescutti, Mario Mateo, Maria Bergemann, and John I. Bailey III
Description
Summary:The ultrafaint dwarf galaxy Reticulum II was enriched by a single rare and prolific r-process event. The r-process content of Reticulum II thus provides a unique opportunity to study metal mixing in a relic first galaxy. Using multi-object high-resolution spectroscopy with VLT/GIRAFFE and Magellan/M2FS, we identify 32 clear spectroscopic member stars and measure abundances of Mg, Ca, Fe, and Ba where possible. We find of the stars are r-process-enhanced, with a mean and unresolved intrinsic dispersion σ [Ba/H]<0.20. The homogeneous r-process abundances imply that Ret II’s metals are well mixed by the time the r-enhanced stars form, which simulations have shown requires at least 100 Myr of metal mixing in between bursts of star formation to homogenize. This is the first direct evidence of bursty star formation in an ultrafaint dwarf galaxy. The homogeneous dilution prefers a prompt and high-yield r-process site, such as collapsar disk winds or prompt neutron star mergers. We also find evidence from [Ba/H] and [Mg/Ca] that the r-enhanced stars in Ret II formed in the absence of substantial pristine gas accretion, perhaps indicating that ≈70% of Ret II stars formed after reionization.
Item Description:Gesehen am 05.04.2023
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1538-3881
DOI:10.3847/1538-3881/acad84

Similar Items