Detailed Chemical Abundance Analysis of the Brightest Stars in the Turranburra and Willka Yaku Stellar Streams*
Abstract We present a detailed chemical abundance analysis of the three brightest known stars from each of the Turranburra and Willka Yaku stellar streams using high-resolution Magellan/Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle spectra. Abundances for 27 elements, ranging from carbon to dysprosium, were derived. Our results support the original classification that Turranburra, with a low average metallicity of [Fe/H] = −2.45 ± 0.07, likely originates from a dwarf galaxy progenitor. Willka Yaku has a low average metallicity of [Fe/H] = −2.35 ± 0.03 with a small scatter in the abundances, consistent with a globular cluster progenitor as suggested by previous studies. Both streams exhibit mild enhancements in neutron-capture elements, with averages of [Eu II /Fe] = 0.47 ± 0.09 for Turranburra and 0.44 ± 0.05 for Willka Yaku, consistent with enrichment from an r -process event. A similar enrichment is observed in other stellar streams, and we further discuss this signature as it relates to the potential enrichment histories of these two streams.
Authors
- Lara R. Cullinane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8536-0547)
- Denis Erkal
- Zhen Wan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3105-3821)
- J. M. Simpson
- Kyler W. Kuehn
- Daniel B Zucker
- S. A. Usman
- Nora Shipp
- Guilherme Limberg
- Gustavo E. Medina
- Gary S. Da Costa
- Geraint F. Lewis
- Dougal Mackey
- Joss Bland-Hawthorn
- Alexander P. Ji
- K. B. Webber
- Ting S. Li
- Sergey E. Koposov
- J. L. Marshall
- T. T. Hansen
- Victor A. Alvarado
- Andrew B. Pace
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae2d59
- Primary Topic
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00