Program: GS-2021A-Q-302

We propose to get detailed chemical abundances for the first, statistically significant sample of old field-giants in the Galactic Center, taking advantage of the Gemini/IGRINS facility with its unprecedented throughput. The analysis of the many atomic and molecular lines in these high-resolution, full K- (and H-) band spectra, will give us, for the first time, high-precision information on chemical-abundance trends of a range of diagnostically important elements. This will trace the chemical enrichment and star-formation history of the Galactic Center. It will constrain different formation and evolution models of the Nuclear Star Cluster, a benchmark for the understanding the formation of nuclear star clusters in general. The applying team is part of a successful US-European collaboration, with large experience of near-IR, high-resolution spectroscopy and abundance analysis of spectra recorded at Keck, VLT, and Gemini, and well-equipped with experienced stellar spectroscopists, IGRINS experts, and leading modellers.