Observations of the Ultraviolet-bright Star III-60 in the Globular Cluster NGC 6723

Abstract

We have analyzed archival far-ultraviolet spectra of the UV-bright star III-60 in the globular cluster NGC 6723 obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. We find that the star's photospheric parameters (effective temperature T_eff = 44,800 ± 1200 K, surface gravity , and helium abundance ) are consistent with the values derived from its optical spectrum, suggesting that optically derived values are generally accurate for evolved stars with T_eff ≲ 50,000 K. Relative to the cluster's red giant branch stars, III-60 is enhanced in nitrogen and depleted in carbon and oxygen. The star exhibits strong P Cygni profiles in both components of the N V λ1240 doublet, but the resonance lines of other species show no evidence of a stellar wind. The star's effective temperature and luminosity place it on the evolutionary tracks of stars evolving from the blue horizontal branch, but its high mass (∼1.2 M_⊙) indicates that it is the product of a stellar merger. Its helium, carbon, and nitrogen abundances suggest that it is following an evolutionary path similar to that of the low-carbon, intermediate helium-rich hot subdwarfs.