Bibcode
Berlanas, S. R.; Herrero, A.; Comerón, F.; Simón-Díaz, S.; Cerviño, M.; Pasquali, A.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 620, id.A56, 15 pp.
Advertised on:
11
2018
Journal
Citations
8
Refereed citations
7
Description
Context. Cygnus OB2 is a rich OB association in the Galaxy located at
only ˜1.4 kpc from us which has experienced intense star formation
in the last 20-25 Myr. Its stellar population shows a correlation
between age and Galactic longitude. Exploring the chemical composition
of its stellar content we will be able to check the degree of
homogeneity of the natal molecular cloud and possible effects of
self-enrichment processes. Aims: Our aim is to determine silicon
and oxygen abundances for a sample of eight early-type slow rotators
(with rotational velocities below 80 km s-1) in Cygnus OB2 in
order to check possible inhomogeneities across the whole association and
whether there exists a correlation of chemical composition with Galactic
longitude. Methods: We have performed a spectroscopic analysis of
a sample of late O and early B stars with low rotational velocity in
Cygnus OB2, which have been chosen so as to cover the whole association
area. We have carried out an analysis based on equivalent widths of
metal lines, the wings of the H Balmer lines and FASTWIND stellar
atmosphere models to determine their stellar fundamental parameters
(effective temperature and surface gravity) as well as the silicon and
oxygen surface abundances. Results: We derive a rather
homogeneous distribution of silicon and oxygen abundances across the
region, with average values of 12 + log(Si/H) = 7.53 ± 0.08 dex
and 12 + log(O/H) = 8.65 ± 0.12 dex. Conclusions: We find
a homogeneous chemical composition in Cygnus OB2 with no clear evidence
for significant chemical self-enrichment, despite indications of strong
stellar winds and possible supernovae during the history of the region.
Comparison with different scenarios of chemical enrichment by stellar
winds and supernovae point to star forming efficiencies not
significantly above 10%. The degree of homogeneity that we find is
consistent with the observed Milky Way oxygen gradient based on H II
regions. We also find that the oxygen scatter within Cygnus OB2 is at
least of the same order than among H II regions at similar
Galactocentric distance.
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Simón Díaz