Evidence of tidal debris from ω Cen in the kapteyn group

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed kinematic and chemical analysis of 16 members of the Kapteyn moving group. The group does not appear to be chemically homogenous. However, the kinematics and the chemical abundance patterns seen in 14 of the stars in this group are similar to those observed in the well-studied cluster, ω Centauri (ωCen). Some members of this moving group may be remnants of the tidal debris of ωCen, left in the Galactic disk during the merger event that deposited ωCen into the Milky Way.