NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2001A-0247
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2001A-0247 |
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PI: Suchitra Balachandran, University of Maryland, suchitra@astro.umd.edu
Address: College Park, MD 20742, USA
CoI: John Carr, Naval Research Laboratory
CoI: Bruce Carney, University of North Carolina
Title: Oxygen abundances in metal-poor stars from IR-OH lines
Abstract:
The goal of this project is to examine the evolution of oxygen in
the early Galaxy by measuring IR-OH lines in metal-poor stars. Oxygen
is critical to numerous astrophysical contexts including the derivation
of globular cluster ages and the early history of the Galaxy's
chemistry. However, its abundance, particularly in metal-poor stars,
has been controversial, with different abundance indicators suggesting
either a flat [O/Fe] ratio or one that increases as metallicity
decreases. The IR vibrational-rotational OH lines provide a robust
alternative to previous indicators and is the only diagnositc that can
be applied to both dwarfs and giants. The end result of our
observations will be a good characterization of the evolution of this
important element.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2001A-0247 |
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