NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0116
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0116 |
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PI: Alistair Walker, NOAO/CTIO, awalker@ctio.noao.edu
Address: Casilla 603, La Serena, Chile
CoI: Giuseppe Bono, Rome Observatory
CoI: Santi Cassisi, Teramo Observatory
CoI: Matteo Monelli, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias
CoI: Massimo Dall'Ora, Naples Observatory
CoI: Gloria Andreuzzi, TNG, La Palma
CoI: Peter Stetson, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
Title: Luminosity Functions of Evolved Populations in Galactic Globular Clusters
Abstract:
We propose to complete the observations (see re-submission details
later) for a project to produce definitive Color-Magnitude Diagrams
(CMDs) for a carefully chosen sample of galactic globular clusters,
using the Mosaic Camera on the Blanco telescope. The large field size
will enable us to efficiently cover to beyond the published tidal radius
for even the larger clusters in our sample. We will combine with
available archival HST photometry for the dense cluster cores to measure
complete star counts for the evolved populations for each cluster, and
where not available, we will provide accurate main sequence photometry,
which will allow quantification of the binary fraction and any spread
due to composition variations. We will use existing studies of the
variable star populations of each cluster to provide extra constraints
on the cluster formation and evolution scenarios, given the complex
behavior that is increasingly being found for the more massive galactic
globular clusters. The empirical results will be compared with
theoretical predictions provided by pulsational and evolutionary models,
in order to check if they can be reproduced in the framework of
canonical stellar theory or, on the contrary, one has to invoke - at
least in the case of the more massive clusters - non canonical
evolutionary scenarios.
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 > 2009A-0116 |
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