Metallicity Gradients of Thick Disk Dwarf Stars

TL;DR

This study analyzes the metallicity distribution of the Galactic thick disk using SDSS data, revealing vertical and radial metallicity gradients that inform galaxy formation models.

Contribution

First measurement of radial metallicity gradient in the thick disk at significant heights above the Galactic plane using a large spectroscopic sample.

Findings

Vertical metallicity gradient of -0.113 dex/kpc.

Radial metallicity gradients between +0.02 and +0.03 dex/kpc.

Separation of thin and thick disk stars based on kinematics.

Abstract

We examine the metallicity distribution of the Galactic thick disk using F, G, and K dwarf stars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Data Release 8. Using the large sample of dwarf stars with proper motions and spectroscopically determined stellar parameters, metallicity gradients in the radial direction for various heights above the Galactic plane and in the vertical direction for various radial distances from the Galaxy center have been found. In particular, we find a vertical metallicity gradient of -0.113 +/- 0.010 (-0.125 +/- 0.008) dex/kpc using an isochrone (photometric) distance determination in the range 1 < |Z| < 3 kpc, which is the vertical height range most consistent with the thick disk of our Galaxy. In the radial direction, we find metallicity gradients between +0.02 and +0.03 dex/kpc for bins in the vertical direction between 1 < |Z| < 3 kpc. Both of these results agree with similar values determined from other populations of stars, but this is the first time a radial metallicity gradient for the thick disk has been found at these vertical heights. We are also able to separate thin and thick disk stars based on kinematic and spatial probabilities in the vertical height range where there is significant overlap of these two populations. This should aid further studies of the metallicity gradients of the disk for vertical heights lower than those studied here but above the solar neighborhood. Metallicity gradients in the thin and thick disks are important probes into possible formation scenarios for our Galaxy and a consistent picture is beginning to emerge from results using large spectroscopic surveys, such as the ones presented here.