G2C2 - IV: A novel approach to study the radial distributions of multiple populations in Galactic globular clusters

TL;DR

This study analyzes the radial distributions of multiple stellar populations in 48 Galactic globular clusters using HB morphology, revealing that most populations are well mixed, which constrains theories of cluster pollution mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method using HB morphology to trace the distribution of multiple populations in globular clusters, providing new insights into their mixing.

Findings

80% of clusters show well-mixed populations

Blue HB stars indicate helium-enriched populations

Results constrain models of interstellar medium pollution

Abstract

We use the HB morphology of 48 Galactic GCs to study the radial distributions of the different stellar populations known to exist in globular clusters. Assuming that the (extremely) blue HB stars correspond to stars enriched in Helium and light elements, we compare the radial distributions of stars selected according to colour on the HB to trace the distribution of the secondary stellar populations in globular clusters. Unlike other cases, our data show that the populations are well mixed in 80% of the cases studied. This provides some constraints on the mechanisms proposed to pollute the interstellar medium in young globular clusters.