Expanding the time domain of multiple populations: evidences of nitrogen variations in the ~1.5 Gyr old star cluster NGC 1783

TL;DR

This study detects nitrogen abundance variations in the main sequence of the ~1.5 Gyr old star cluster NGC 1783, providing evidence of multiple populations in a younger cluster than previously observed, and explores implications for star cluster formation.

Contribution

First detection of multiple populations in a star cluster younger than 2 Gyr through nitrogen abundance variations in the main sequence.

Findings

Broadening of the main sequence suggests nitrogen enhancement (~0.3 dex).

No evidence of multiple populations along the red giant branch.

Supports similar star formation processes across cosmic time.

Abstract

We present the result of a detailed analysis of HST UV and optical deep images of the massive and young (~1.5 Gyr) stellar cluster NGC 1783 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This system does not show evidences of multiple populations (MPs) along the red giant branch (RGB) stars. However, we find that the cluster main-sequence (MS) shows evidence of a significant broadening (50% larger than what is expected from photometric errors) along with hints of possible bimodality in the MP sensitive (F343N - F438W, F438W) color-magnitude-diagram (CMD). Such an effect is observed in all color combinations including the F343N filter, while it is not found in the optical CMDs. This observational evidence suggests we might have found light-element chemical abundance variations along the MS of NGC 1783, which represents the first detection of MPs in a system younger than 2 Gyr. A comparison with isochrones including MP-like abundances shows that the observed broadening is compatible with a N abundance enhancement of Delta([N/Fe]) ~0.3. Our analysis also confirms previous results about the lack of MPs along the cluster RGB. However, we find that the apparent disagreement between the results found on the MS and the RGB is compatible with the mixing effects linked to the first dredge-up. This study provides new key information about the MP phenomenon and suggests that star clusters form in a similar way at any cosmic age.