The Multiplicity of Main Sequence Turnoffs in Globular Clusters

TL;DR

This paper investigates the presence of multiple main sequence turnoff points in globular clusters, showing that self-enrichment models can produce multiple turnoffs, unlike pre-enrichment models, with implications for cluster evolution.

Contribution

It demonstrates that self-enrichment models can explain multiple main sequence turnoffs in globular clusters, unlike pre-enrichment models, providing insights into cluster formation history.

Findings

Self-enrichment models can produce multiple turnoff points if mass loss is below 95-97%.

Pre-enrichment models only show a single turnoff point.

The globular cluster wCen likely evolved through a self-enrichment process.

Abstract

We present color-magnitude diagrams of globular clusters for models with self-enrichment and pre-enrichment. The models with self-enrichment turn out to have two or more main sequence turnoff points in the color-magnitude diagram if the fraction of mass lost by the globular cluster under supernova explosions does not exceed 95-97%. The models with pre-enrichment can have only one main sequence turnoff point. We argue that the cluster wCen evolved according to a self-enrichment scenario.