T. Bensby et al 2007 ApJ 655 L89 doi:10.1086/512014
T. Bensby1, M. S. Oey1, S. Feltzing2 and B. Gustafsson3
Show affiliationsUsing high-resolution spectra of nearby F and G dwarf stars, we have investigated the detailed abundance and age structure of the Hercules stream. We find that the stars in the stream have a wide range of stellar ages, metallicities, and element abundances. By comparing to existing samples of stars in the solar neighborhood with kinematics typical of the Galactic thin and thick disks, we find that the properties of the Hercules stream distinctly separate into the abundance and age trends of the two disks. Hence, we find it unlikely that the Hercules stream is a unique Galactic stellar population but rather is a mixture of thin and thick disk stars. This points toward a dynamical origin for the Hercules stream, probably caused by the Galactic bar.
Galaxy: disk; Galaxy: evolution; Galaxy: formation; solar neighborhood; stars: abundances; stars: kinematics
Issue 2 (2007 February 1)
Received 2006 November 22, accepted for publication 2006 December 20
Published 2007 January 11
T. Bensby et al 2007 ApJ 655 L89
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