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. *This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 2026
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2512.10003
- Bibcode:
- 2026ApJ...998..114W
- Keywords:
-
- Stellar abundances;
- Chemical abundances;
- Stellar streams;
- 1577;
- 224;
- 2166;
- Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 21 pages, 10 tables, 6 figures
