Red Clump Stars in the Sagittarius Tidal Streams

TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes Red Clump stars in the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy's tidal streams using photometric and spectroscopic data, providing insights into the stream's stellar density and galaxy disruption processes.

Contribution

It introduces a new method to distinguish Red Clump stars from other stellar types using kinematic and Bayesian analysis, enhancing stream characterization.

Findings

Red Clump stars are effective tracers of the Sagittarius stream.

Measured stellar density of Red Clump stars in the stream is 2.7 +/- 0.5 RC stars kpc-3.

Developed a systematic approach to separate Red Clump stars from main sequence stars.

Abstract

We have probed a section (l ~ 150, b ~ -60) of the trailing tidal arm of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy by identifying a sample of Red Clump stream stars. Red Clump stars are not generally found in the halo field, but are found in significant numbers in both the Sagittarius galaxy and its tidal streams, making them excellent probes of stream characteristics. Our target sample was selected using photometric data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Data Release 6, which was constrained in color to match the Sagittarius Red Clump stars. Spectroscopic observations of the target stars were conducted at Kitt Peak National Observatory using the WIYN telescope. The resulting spectroscopic sample is magnitude limited and contains both main sequence disk stars and evolved Red Clump stars. We have developed a method to systematically separate these two stellar classes using kinematic information and a Bayesian approach for surface gravity determination. The resulting Red Clump sample allows us to determine an absolute stellar density of {\rho} = 2.7 +/- 0.5 RC stars kpc-3 at this location in the stream. Future measurements of stellar densities for a variety of populations and at various locations along the streams will lead to a much improved understanding of the original nature of the Sagittarius galaxy and the physical processes controlling its disruption and subsequent stream generation.