  We present a hydrodynamical and chemical model for the globular cluster Omega
Cen, under the assumption that it is the remnant of an ancient dwarf spheroidal
galaxy (dSph), the bulk of which was disrupted and accreted by our Galaxy ~10
Gyr ago. We highlight the very different roles played by Type II and Type Ia
supernovae (SNe) in the chemical enrichment of the inner regions of the
putative parent dSph. While the SNe II pollute the interstellar medium rather
uniformly, the SNe Ia ejecta may remain confined inside dense pockets of gas as
long as succesive SNe II explosions spread them out. Stars forming in such
pockets have lower alpha-to-iron ratios than the stars forming elsewhere. Owing
to the inhomogeneous pollution by SNe Ia, the metal distribution of the stars
in the central region differs substantially from that of the main population of
the dwarf galaxy, and resembles that observed in Omega Cen. This inhomogeneous
mixing is also responsible for a radial segregation of iron-rich stars with
depleted [alpha/Fe] ratios, as observed in some dSphs. Assuming a star
formation history of ~1.5 Gyr, our model succeeds in reproducing both the iron
and calcium distributions observed in Omega Cen and the main features observed
in the empirical alpha/Fe versus Fe/H plane. Finally, our model reproduces the
overall spread of the color-magnitude diagram, but fails in reproducing the
morphology of the SGB-a and the double morphology of the main sequence.
However, the inhomogeneous pollution reduces (but does not eliminate) the need
for a significantly enhanced helium abundance to explain the anomalous position
of the blue main sequence. Further models taking into account the dynamical
interaction of the parent dwarf galaxy with the Milky Way and the effect of AGB
pollution will be required.
