scholarly journals Unusual neutron-capture nucleosynthesis in a carbon-rich Galactic bulge star

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Koch ◽  
Moritz Reichert ◽  
Camilla Juul Hansen ◽  
Melanie Hampel ◽  
Richard J. Stancliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Galactic Bulge ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Intermediate Neutron ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Process Component ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
The Impact

Metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo often show strong enhancements in carbon and/or neutron-capture elements. However, the Galactic bulge is notable for its paucity of these carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) and/or CH-stars, with only two such objects known to date. This begs the question whether the processes that produced their abundance distribution were governed by a comparable nucleosynthesis in similar stellar sites as for their more numerous counterparts in the halo. Recently, two contenders of these classes of stars were discovered in the bulge, at [Fe/H] = −1.5 and −2.5 dex, both of which show enhancements in [C/Fe] of 0.4 and 1.4 dex (respectively), [Ba/Fe] in excess of 1.3 dex, and also elevated nitrogen. The more metal-poor of the stars can be well matched by standard s-process nucleosynthesis in low-mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) polluters. The other star shows an abnormally high [Rb/Fe] ratio. Here, we further investigate the origin of the abundance peculiarities in the Rb-rich star by new, detailed measurements of heavy element abundances and by comparing the chemical element ratios of 36 species to several models of neutron-capture nucleosynthesis. The i-process with intermediate neutron densities between those of the slow (s-) and rapid (r)-neutron-capture processes has been previously found to provide good matches of CEMP stars with enhancements in both r- and s-process elements (class CEMP-r/s), rather than invoking a superposition of yields from the respective individual processes. However, the peculiar bulge star is incompatible with a pure i-process from a single ingestion event. Instead, it can, statistically, be better reproduced by more convoluted models accounting for two proton ingestion events, or by an i-process component in combination with s-process nucleosynthesis in low-to-intermediate mass (2–3 M⊙) AGB stars, indicating multiple polluters. Finally, we discuss the impact of mixing during stellar evolution on the observed abundance peculiarities.

scholarly journals The Mystery of CEMPs+r Stars and the Dual Core-Flash Neutron Superburst

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lugaro ◽  
S. W. Campbell ◽  
S. E. de Mink
Keyword(s):  
Large Fraction ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Observational Constraints ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Process Component ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
Dual Core

AbstractCarbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMPs+r) stars show large enhancements of elements produced both by the slow and the rapid neutron capture processes (the s and r process, respectively) and represent a relatively large fraction, 30% to 50%, of the CEMP population. Many scenarios have been proposed to explain this peculiar chemical composition and most of them involve a binary companion producing the s-process elements during its Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase. The problem is that none of the proposed explanations appears to be able to account for all observational constraints, hence, alternatives are needed to be put forward and investigated. In this spirit, we propose a new scenario for the formation of CEMPs+r stars based on S. W. Campbell's finding that during the ‘dual core flash’ in low-mass stars of extremely low metallicity, when protons are ingested in the He-flash convective zone, a ‘neutron superburst’ is produced. Further calculations are needed to verify if this neutron superburst could make the r-process component observed in CEMPs+r, as well as their Fe abundances. The s-process component would then be produced during the following AGB phase.

scholarly journals Abundance Ratios in Metal-Poor Globular Clusters: Deep Mixing and its Effect on Stellar Populations of the Galactic Halo

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Robert P. Kraft
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Proton Capture ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Deep Mixing ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Red Giant

Only a bit more than 25 years ago, it seemed possible to assume that all Galactic globular clusters were chemically homogeneous. There were indications that star-to-star Fe abundance variations existed in ω Cen, but this massive cluster appeared to be unique. Following Osborn’s (1971) initial discovery, Zinn’s (1973) observation that M92 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars had weaker G-bands than subgiants with equivalent temperatures provided the first extensive evidence that there might be variations in the abundances of the light elements in an otherwise “normal” cluster. Since then star-to-star variations in the abundances of C, N, O, Na, Mg and Al have been observed in all cases in which sample sizes have exceeded 5-10 stars, e.g., in clusters such as M92, M15, M13, M3, ω Cen, MIO and M5. Among giants in these clusters one finds large surface O abundance differences, and these are intimately related to differences of other light element abundances, not only of C and N, but also of Na, Mg and Al (cf. reviews by Suntzeff 1993, Briley et al 1994, and Kraft 1994). The abundances of Na and O, as well as Al and Mg, are anticorrelated. Prime examples are found among giants in M15 (Sneden et al 1997), M13 (Pilachowski et al 1996; Shetrone 1996a,b; and Kraft et al 1997) and ω Cen (Norris & Da Costa 1995a,b). These observed anticorrelations almost certainly result from proton- capture chains that convert C to N, 0 to N, Ne to Na and Mg to Al in or near the hydrogen fusion layers of evolved cluster stars. But which stars? An appealing idea is that during the giant branch lifetimes of the low-mass stars that we now observe, substantial portions of the stellar envelopes have been cycled through regions near the H-burning shell where proton-capture nucleosynthesis can occur. This so-called “evolutionary” scenario involving deep envelope mixing in first ascent red giant branch (RGB) stars has been studied by Denissenkov & Denissenkova (1990), Langer & Hoffman (1995), Cavallo et al (1996, 1997) and Langer et al (1997). The mixing mechanism that brings proton-capture products to the surface is poorly understood (Denissenkov & Weiss 1996, Denissenkov et al 1997, Langer et al 1997), but deep mixing driven by angular momentum has been suggested (Sweigart & Mengel 1979, Kraft 1994, Langer & Hoffman 1995, Sweigart 1997).

scholarly journals Characterizing the companion AGBs using surface chemical composition of barium stars

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 3708-3727 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Shejeelammal ◽  
Aruna Goswami ◽  
Partha Pratim Goswami ◽  
Rajeev Singh Rathour ◽  
Thomas Masseron
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Slow Neutron ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Capture Process ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass

ABSTRACT Barium stars are one of the important probes to understand the origin and evolution of slow neutron-capture process elements in the Galaxy. These are extrinsic stars, where the observed s-process element abundances are believed to have an origin in the now invisible companions that produced these elements at their asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase of evolution. We have attempted to understand the s-process nucleosynthesis, as well as the physical properties of the companion stars through a detailed comparison of observed elemental abundances of 10 barium stars with the predictions from AGB nucleosynthesis models, FRUITY. For these stars, we have presented estimates of abundances of several elements, C, N, O, Na, Al, α-elements, Fe-peak elements, and neutron-capture elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu. The abundance estimates are based on high resolution spectral analysis. Observations of Rb in four of these stars have allowed us to put a limit to the mass of the companion AGB stars. Our analysis clearly shows that the former companions responsible for the surface abundance peculiarities of these stars are low-mass AGB stars. Kinematic analysis has shown the stars to be members of Galactic disc population.

scholarly journals Carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars as probes of early Galactic nucleosynthesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S265) ◽  
pp. 117-117
Author(s):  
O. R. Pols ◽  
R. G. Izzard ◽  
E. Glebbeek ◽  
R. J. Stancliffe
Keyword(s):  
Binary Systems ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Initial Mass Function ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Mass Star ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
Early Galaxy

A large fraction, between 10 and 25%, of very metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo are carbon-rich objects, with enhancements of carbon relative to iron exceeding a factor 10. The majority of these carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars show enhancements of heavy s-process elements and have been found to be spectroscopic binary systems. Many of their properties are well explained by the binary mass transfer scenario, in which a former asymptotic giant branch (AGB) companion star has polluted the low-mass star with its nucleosynthesis products. The same scenario predicts the existence of nitrogen-rich metal-poor (NEMP) stars, with [N/C] > 0.5, from AGB companions more massive than about 3 solar masses. In contrast to CEMP stars, however, such NEMP stars are very rare. Recent studies suggest that the high frequency of CEMP stars requires a modified initial mass function (IMF) in the early Galaxy, weighted towards intermediate-mass stars. Such models also implicitly predict a large number of NEMP stars which is not seen.

S-process Elements in Binary Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S343) ◽  
pp. 452-453
Author(s):  
Lisa Löbling ◽  
Henri Boffin
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Planetary Nebulae ◽  
Slow Neutron ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Evolved Stars ◽  
Intermediate Mass Stars ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
Central Stars

AbstractLow- and intermediate-mass stars experience a phase of carbon enrichment and slow neutron-capture nucleosynthesis (s-process) on the asymptotic giant branch. An interesting element is the radioactive technetium, whose presence is a clear indication that nucleosynthesis happened recently. Analysing the element abundances not only in the hot evolved stars at the center of planetary nebulae helps to derive constraints for the evolution of these stars. Doing so also in their companions if they are in a binary, provides information on the mass-transfer history.

Distribution of R- and S-Process Elements in the Galactic Halo

1988 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. 501-506
Author(s):  
C. Sneden ◽  
C. A. Pilachowski ◽  
K. K. Gilroy ◽  
J. J. Cowan
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Element ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Heavy Elements ◽  
Process Synthesis ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Halo Stars ◽  
Abundance Patterns ◽  
R Process ◽  
Process Elements

Current observational results for the abundances of the very heavy elements (Z>30) in Population II halo stars are reviewed. New high resolution, low noise spectra of many of these extremely metal-poor stars reveal general consistency in their overall abundance patterns. Below Galactic metallicities of [Fe/H] Ã −2, all of the very heavy elements were manufactured almost exclusively in r-process synthesis events. However, there is considerable star-to-star scatter in the overall level of very heavy element abundances, indicating the influence of local supernovas on element production in the very early, unmixed Galactic halo. The s-process appears to contribute substantially to stellar abundances only in stars more metal-rich than [Fe/H] Ã −2.

scholarly journals Constraining nucleosynthesis in two CEMP progenitors using fluorine

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (3) ◽  
pp. 3549-3559
Author(s):  
Aldo Mura-Guzmán ◽  
D Yong ◽  
C Abate ◽  
A Karakas ◽  
C Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Slow Neutron ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Capture Process ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Infrared Spectrometer ◽  
Binary Evolution ◽  
Vibration Rotation ◽  
R Process ◽  
Process Elements

ABSTRACT We present new fluorine abundance estimations in two carbon enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars, HE 1429−0551 and HE 1305+0007. HE 1429−0551 is also enriched in slow neutron-capture process (s-process) elements, a CEMP-s, and HE 1305+0007 is enhanced in both, slow and rapid neutron-capture process elements, a CEMP-s/r. The F abundances estimates are derived from the vibration–rotation transition of the HF molecule at 23358.6 Å  using high-resolution infrared spectra obtained with the Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) at the 4-m class Lowell Discovery Telescope. Our results include an F abundance measurement in HE 1429−0551 of A(F) = +3.93 ([F/Fe] = +1.90) at [Fe/H] = −2.53, and an F upper limit in HE 1305+0007 of A(F) < +3.28 ([F/Fe] < +1.00) at [Fe/H] = −2.28. Our new derived F abundance in HE 1429−0551 makes this object the most metal-poor star where F has been detected. We carefully compare these results with literature values and state-of-the-art CEMP-s model predictions including detailed asymptotic giant branch (AGB) nucleosynthesis and binary evolution. The modelled fluorine abundance for HE 1429−0551 is within reasonable agreement with our observed abundance, although is slightly higher than our observed value. For HE 1429−0551, our findings support the scenario via mass transfer by a primary companion during its thermally pulsing phase. Our estimated upper limit in HE 1305+0007, along with data from the literature, shows large discrepancies compared with AGB models. The discrepancy is principally due to the simultaneous s- and r-process element enhancements which the model struggles to reproduce.

scholarly journals Interpretation of CEMP(s) and CEMP(s + r) Stars with AGB Models

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bisterzo ◽  
Roberto Gallino ◽  
Oscar Straniero ◽  
Wako Aoki
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Binary System ◽  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Process Elements

AbstractAsymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars play a fundamental role in s-process nucleosynthesis during their thermal pulsing phase. The theoretical predictions obtained by AGB models at different masses, s-process efficiencies, dilution factors and initial r-enrichment, are compared with spectroscopic observations of Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor stars enriched in s-process elements, CEMP(s), collected from the literature. We discuss here five stars as example, CS 22880-074, CS 22942-019, CS 29526-110, HE 0202-2204 and LP 625-44. All these objects lie on the main sequence or on the giant phase, clearly before the thermally pulsing AGB stage. The hypothesis of mass transfer from an AGB companion, would explain the observed s-process enhancement. CS 29526-110 and LP 625-44 are CEMP(s + r) objects, and are interpreted assuming that the molecular cloud, from which the binary system formed, was already enriched in r-process elements by SNII pollution. In several cases, the observed s-process distribution may be accounted for by AGB models of different initial masses with proper 13C-pocket efficiencies and dilution factors. Na (and Mg), produced via the neutron capture chain starting from 22Ne, may provide an indicator of the initial AGB mass.

scholarly journals Homogeneous analysis of globular clusters from the APOGEE survey with the BACCHUS code

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A191 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Masseron ◽  
D. A. García-Hernández ◽  
Sz. Mészáros ◽  
O. Zamora ◽  
F. Dell’Agli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Capture ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Spectroscopic Method ◽  
Light Element ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Evolutionary Status ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Automatic Code

Aims. We seek to provide abundances of a large set of light and neutron-capture elements homogeneously analyzed that cover a wide range of metallicity to constrain globular cluster (GC) formation and evolution models. Methods. We analyzed a large sample of 885 GCs giants from the SDSS IV-Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. We used the Cannon results to separate the red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch stars, not only allowing for a refinement of surface gravity from isochrones, but also providing an independent H-band spectroscopic method to distinguish stellar evolutionary status in clusters. We then used the Brussels Automatic Code for Characterizing High accUracy Spectra (BACCHUS) to derive metallicity, microturbulence, macroturbulence, many light-element abundances, and the neutron-capture elements Nd and Ce for the first time from the APOGEE GCs data. Results. Our independent analysis helped us to diagnose issues regarding the standard analysis of the APOGEE DR14 for low-metallicity GC stars. Furthermore, while we confirm most of the known correlations and anticorrelation trends (Na-O, Mg-Al, C-N), we discover that some stars within our most metal-poor clusters show an extreme Mg depletion and some Si enhancement. At the same time, these stars show some relative Al depletion, displaying a turnover in the Mg-Al diagram. These stars suggest that Al has been partially depleted in their progenitors by very hot proton-capture nucleosynthetic processes. Furthermore, we attempted to quantitatively correlate the spread of Al abundances with the global properties of GCs. We find an anticorrelation of the Al spread against clusters metallicity and luminosity, but the data do not allow us to find clear evidence of a dependence of N against metallicity in the more metal-poor clusters. Conclusions. Large and homogeneously analyzed samples from ongoing spectroscopic surveys unveil unseen chemical details for many clusters, including a turnover in the Mg-Al anticorrelation, thus yielding new constrains for GCs formation/evolution models.

scholarly journals First discovery of trans-iron elements in a DAO-type white dwarf (BD−22°3467)

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (1) ◽  
pp. 528-548
Author(s):  
L Löbling ◽  
M A Maney ◽  
T Rauch ◽  
P Quinet ◽  
S Gamrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Dwarf ◽  
Convection Zone ◽  
Ultraviolet Spectrum ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
Thermal Pulse ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
First Time ◽  
Abundance Determination

ABSTRACT We have identified 484 lines of the trans-iron elements (TIEs) Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Br, Kr, Sr, Zr, Mo, In, Te, I, Xe, and Ba, for the first time in the ultraviolet spectrum of a DAO-type white dwarf (WD), namely BD−22°3467, surrounded by the ionized nebula Abell 35. Our TIE abundance determination shows extremely high overabundances of up to 5 dex – a similar effect is already known from hot, H-deficient (DO-type) WDs. In contrast to these where a pulse-driven convection zone has enriched the photosphere with TIEs during a final thermal pulse and radiative levitation has established the extreme TIE overabundances, here the extreme TIE overabundances are exclusively driven by radiative levitation on the initial stellar metallicity. The very low mass ($0.533^{+0.040}_{-0.025}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$) of BD−22°3467 implies that a third dredge-up with enrichment of s-process elements in the photosphere did not occur in the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) precursor.

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