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Diane Feuillet
Researcher
![Profile picture Diane Feuillet](/sites/geology.lu.se/files/styles/lu_personal_page_desktop/public/2023-03/profile_small_square.jpeg.webp?itok=pw90u-fw)
The GALAH survey : tracing the Milky Way’s formation and evolution through RR Lyrae stars
Author
Summary, in English
Stellar mergers and accretion events have been crucial in shaping the evolution of the Milky Way (MW). These events have been dynamically identified and chemically characterized using red giants and main-sequence stars. RR Lyrae (RRL) variables can play a crucial role in tracing the early formation of the MW since they are ubiquitous, old (t ≥ 10 Gyr) low-mass stars and accurate distance indicators. We exploited Data Release 3 of the GALAH survey to identify 78 field RRLs suitable for chemical analysis. Using synthetic spectra calculations, we determined atmospheric parameters and abundances of Fe, Mg, Ca, Y, and Ba. Most of our stars exhibit halo-like chemical compositions, with an iron peak around [Fe/H] ≈ −1.40, and enhanced Ca and Mg content. Notably, we discovered a metal-rich tail, with [Fe/H] values ranging from −1 to approximately solar metallicity. This sub-group includes almost 1/4 of the sample, it is characterized by thin disc kinematics and displays sub-solar α-element abundances, marginally consistent with the majority of the MW stars. Surprisingly, they differ distinctly from typical MW disc stars in terms of the s-process elements Y and Ba. We took advantage of similar data available in the literature and built a total sample of 535 field RRLs for which we estimated kinematical and dynamical properties. We found that metal-rich RRLs (1/3 of the sample) likely represent an old component of the MW thin disc. We also detected RRLs with retrograde orbits and provided preliminary associations with the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus, Helmi, Sequoia, Sagittarius, and Thamnos stellar streams.
Department/s
- Department of Geology
- eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration
Publishing year
2024-06-01
Language
English
Pages
137-162
Publication/Series
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
531
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Topic
- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Keywords
- Galaxy: abundances
- Galaxy: disc
- Galaxy: halo
- stars: abundances
- stars: Population II
- stars: variables: RR Lyrae
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0035-8711