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The Massive Star Population at the Center of the Milky Way

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Francisco Najarro
Affiliation:
Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC/INTA), ctra. de Ajalvir km. 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
Diego de la Fuente
Affiliation:
Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC/INTA), ctra. de Ajalvir km. 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
Tom R. Geballe
Affiliation:
Gemini Observatory, 670 N. A'ohoku Place, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Don F. Figer
Affiliation:
Center for Detectors, Rochester Institute of Technology, 54 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
D. John Hillier
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, 3941 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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Abstract

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Recent detection of a large number of apparently isolated massive stars within the inner 80 pc of the Galactic Center has raised fundamental questions regarding massive star formation in a such a dense and harsh environment. Are these isolated stars the results of tidal interactions between clusters, are they escapees from a disrupted cluster, or do they represent a new mode of massive star formation in isolation? Noting that most of the isolated massive stars have spectral analogs in the Quintuplet Cluster, we have undertaken a combined analysis of the infrared spectra of both selected Quintuplet stars and the isolated objects using Gemini North spectroscopy. We present preliminary results, aiming at α-elements vs iron abundances, stellar properties, ages and radial velocities which will differentiate the top-heavy and star-formation scenarios.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2015 

References

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