Self-enrichment in omega Centauri

Citation
C. Ikuta et N. Arimoto, Self-enrichment in omega Centauri, ASTRON ASTR, 358(2), 2000, pp. 535-546
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ISSN journal
00046361 → ACNP
Volume
358
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
535 - 546
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6361(200006)358:2<535:SIOC>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
The origin of abundance spreads observed in omega Centauri is studied in th e context of the self-enrichment scenario. Five chemical evolution models a re constructed and are compared with empirical metallicity distribution of omega Cen. After a series of simulations, it is found that neither of close d-box, outflow, nor infall models can reproduce the empirical metallicity d istribution of omega Cen, while a modified outflow model with a bimodal ini tial mass function (IMF) gives a metallicity distribution that fits closely to the empirical ones. In the modified outflow model, long-lived stars are assumed to form after the first explosion of type II supernovae (SNII) in a proto-cloud. The modified outflow model involves gas infall at the very f irst chemical evolution. Thus we conclude that self-enrichment causes the a bundance dispersion in omega Cen. A success of the outflow model with the b imodal IMF implies that low mass stars in a globular cluster (GC) should ha ve formed in the gas already enriched by the first generation of SNII. This scenario, originally proposed by Cayrel (1986), can explain a lack of globular clusters with [Fe/H]less than or similar to -2.2 in the Milky Way Galaxy.