Bibcode
Schneider, Donald P.; Beers, Timothy C.; Lee, Young Sun; Allende-Prieto, C.; Palladino, L. E.; Schlesinger, Katharine J.; Holley-Bockelmann, Kelly
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 780, Issue 1, article id. 7, 7 pp. (2014).
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1
2014
Journal
Citations
44
Refereed citations
42
Description
We present 20 candidate hypervelocity stars from the Sloan Extension for
Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE) G and K dwarf samples.
Previous searches for hypervelocity stars have only focused on large
radial velocities; in this study, we also use proper motions to select
the candidates. We determine the hypervelocity likelihood of each
candidate by means of Monte Carlo simulations, considering the
significant errors often associated with high proper motion stars. We
find that nearly half of the candidates exceed their escape velocities
with at least 98% probability. Every candidate also has less than a 25%
chance of being a high-velocity fluke within the SEGUE sample. Based on
orbits calculated using the observed six-dimensional positions and
velocities, few, if any, of these candidates originate from the Galactic
center. If these candidates are truly hypervelocity stars, they were not
ejected by interactions with the Milky Way's supermassive black hole.
This calls for a more serious examination of alternative
hypervelocity-star ejection scenarios.
Related projects
Chemical Abundances in Stars
Stellar spectroscopy allows us to determine the properties and chemical compositions of stars. From this information for stars of different ages in the Milky Way, it is possible to reconstruct the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, as well as the origin of the elements heavier than boron, created mainly in stellar interiors. It is also possible to
Carlos
Allende Prieto