A helium-carbon correlation on the extreme horizontal branch in ω Centauri
Taking advantage of a recent FORS2/VLT spectroscopic sample of extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars in ω Cen, we isolate 38 spectra well suited for detailed atmospheric studies and determine their fundamental parameters (T {sub eff}, log g, and log N(He)/N(H)) using NLTE, metal line-blanketed models. We find that our targets can be divided into three groups: 6 stars are hot (T {sub eff} ≳ 45,000 K) H-rich subdwarf O stars, 7 stars are typical H-rich sdB stars (T {sub eff} ≲ 35,000 K), and the remaining 25 targets at intermediate effective temperatures are He-rich (log N(He)/N(H) ≳ –1.0) subdwarfs. Surprisingly, and quite interestingly, these He-rich hot subdwarfs in ω Cen cluster in a narrow temperature range (∼35,000 K to ∼40,000 K). We additionally measure the atmospheric carbon abundance and find a most interesting positive correlation between the carbon and helium atmospheric abundances. This correlation certainly bears the signature of diffusion processes—most likely gravitational settling impeded by stellar winds or internal turbulence—but also constrains possible formation scenarios proposed for EHB stars in ω Cen. For the He-rich objects in particular, the clear link between helium and carbon enhancement points toward a late hot flasher evolutionary history.