Astron. Astrophys. 364, L19-L25 (2000)

Letter to the Editor

Age-metallicity relation and chemical evolution of the LMC from UVES spectra of Globular Cluster giants ^*

V. Hill ¹, P. François ¹, M. Spite ², F. Primas ¹ and F. Spite <sup>2

1</sup> European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, 85748 Garching, Germany
² Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 92125 Meudon Cedex, France

Received 10 August 2000 / Accepted 13 September 2000

Abstract

We report on the first high-resolution spectroscopy of 10 giants in LMC Globular Clusters in a wide age range , obtained with the newly commissioned spectrograph UVES at VLT UT2. These observations are used to derive oxygen and iron content of these clusters, and the abundances are then used to cast a more precise view, not only on the age-metallicity relation in the LMC, but also on the chemical evolution of this dwarf irregular galaxy.

Key words: stars: binaries: spectroscopic stars: late-type Galaxy: globular clusters: individual: NGC 2210, ESO 121-SCO3, NGC 1978, NGC 1866 galaxies: Magellanic Clouds

* based on observations made at the ESO Telescopes in Chile

Send offprint requests to: V. Hill

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Observations
• 3. Abundance analysis
  • 3.1. Atmospheric parameters
  • 3.2. Abundance determinations
• 4. Results
  • 4.1. Cluster metallicities
  • 4.2. Oxygen abundance and deep mixing effects
• 5. Evolution of metallicity with age in the LMC
  • 5.1. New estimations of cluster ages
  • 5.2. Age-metallicity relation
• 6. Oxygen over iron ratios and chemical evolution
• Acknowledgements
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 2000

Online publication: December 15, 2000
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