Stellar archaeology: Exploring the Universe with metal‐poor stars

The abundance patterns of the most metal‐poor stars in the Galactic halo and small dwarf galaxies provide us with a wealth of information about the early Universe. In particular, these old survivors allow us to study the nature of the first stars and supernovae, the relevant nucleosynthesis processes responsible for the formation and evolution of the elements, early star‐ and galaxy formation processes, as well as the assembly process of the stellar halo from dwarf galaxies a long time ago. This review presents the current state of the field of “stellar archaeology” – the diverse use of metal‐poor stars to explore the high‐redshift Universe and its constituents. In particular, the conditions for early star formation are discussed, how these ultimately led to a chemical evolution, and what the role of the most iron‐poor stars is for learning about Population III supernovae yields. Rapid neutron‐capture signatures found in metal‐poor stars can be used to obtain stellar ages, but also to constrain this complex nucleosynthesis process with observational measurements. Moreover, chemical abundances of extremely metal‐poor stars in different types of dwarf galaxies can be used to infer details on the formation scenario of the halo and the role of dwarf galaxies as Galactic building blocks. I conclude with an outlook as to where this field may be heading within the next decade. A table of ~ 1000 metal‐poor stars and their abundances as collected from the literature is provided in electronic format (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The evolution of barium and europium in local dwarf spheroidal galaxies

By means of a detailed chemical evolution model, we follow the evolution of barium (Ba) and europium (Eu) in four Local Group Dwarf Spheroidal (dSph) galaxies, in order to set constraints on the nucleosynthesis of these elements and on the evolution of this type of galaxies compared with the Milky Way. The model, which is able to reproduce several observed abundance ratios and the present-day total mass and gas mass content of these galaxies, adopts up-to-date nucleosynthesis and takes into account the role played by supernovae (SNe) of different types (II, Ia) allowing us to follow in detail the evolution of several chemical elements (H, D, He, C, N, O, Mg, Si, S, Ca, Fe, Ba and Eu). By assuming that Ba is a neutron-capture element produced in low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars by s-process but also in massive stars (in the mass range 10–30 M_⊙) by r-process, during the explosive event of SNe of Type II, and that Eu is a pure r-process element synthesized in massive stars also in the range of masses 10–30 M_⊙, we are able to reproduce the observed [Ba/Fe] and [Eu/Fe] as functions of [Fe/H] in all four galaxies studied. We confirm also the important role played by the very low star formation (SF) efficiencies (ν= 0.005–0.5 Gyr⁻¹) and by the intense galactic winds (6–13 times the star formation rate) in the evolution of these galaxies. These low SF efficiencies (compared to the one for the Milky Way disc) adopted for the dSph galaxies are the main reason for the differences between the trends of [Ba/Fe] and [Eu/Fe] predicted and observed in these galaxies and in the metal-poor stars of our Galaxy. Finally, we provide predictions for Sagittarius galaxy for which data of only two stars are available.     

Primordial nucleosynthesis

Nucleosynthesis is the process by which chemical elements and their isotopes are formed. The heavy elements (carbon and heavier ones) are thought to be the result of thermonuclear burning in stars, and especially the relatively rare stars that become supernovae. Big Bang nucleosynthesis generated few elements: only hydrogen, deuterium, some of the helium and lithium, traces (if any) of beryllium and boron. After a brief overview of the physical processes involved therein, we present the predictions of the primordial nucleosynthesis in the standard Big Bang model and compare them to the abundances of the primordial light elements as derived from observational data.     

An explosive end to intermediate-mass zero-metallicity stars and early Universe nucleosynthesis

We use the Cambridge stellar evolution code stars to model the evolution of 5 and  7 M_⊙  zero-metallicity stars. With enhanced resolution at the hydrogen- and helium-burning shell in the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phases, we are able to model the entire thermally pulsing AGB (TP-AGB) phase. The helium luminosities of the thermal pulses are significantly lower than in higher metallicity stars so there is no third dredge-up. The envelope is enriched in nitrogen by hot-bottom burning of carbon that was previously mixed in during second dredge-up. There is no s -process enrichment owing to the lack of third dredge-up. The thermal pulses grow weaker as the core mass increases and they eventually cease. From then on the star enters a quiescent burning phase which lasts until carbon ignites at the centre of the star when the CO core mass is  1.36 M_⊙  . With such a high degeneracy and a core mass so close to the Chandrasekhar mass, we expect these stars to explode as type 1.5 supernovae, very similar to type Ia supernovae but inside a hydrogen-rich envelope.     

CEMP星HE1005-1439中子俘获元素天体物理来源的研究

HE1005-1439是一颗金属丰度极低([Fe/H] ~ - 3.0)的碳增丰贫金属星(Carbon Enhanced Metal-Poor,CEMP), 该星的s-过程元素显著超丰([Ba/Fe] = 1.16±0.31, [Pb/Fe] = 1.98±0.19), 而r-过程元素温和超丰([Eu/Fe] = 0.46±0.22), 使用单一的s-过程模型和i-过程模型均不能拟合该星中子俘获丰度分布. 采用丰度分解的方法探究该星化学元素的天体物理来源可有助于理解CEMP星的形成和化学演化. 利用s-过程和r-过程的混合模型对其中子俘获元素的丰度分布进行拟合, 发现该星的中子俘获元素主要来源于低质量低金属丰度AGB伴星的s-过程核合成, 而r-过程核合成也有贡献.     

Stellar science from a blue wavelength range

From stellar spectra, a variety of physical properties of stars can be derived. In particular, the chemical composition of stellar atmospheres can be inferred from absorption line analyses. These provide key information on large scales, such as the formation of our Galaxy, down to the small‐scale nucleosynthesis processes that take place in stars and supernovae. By extending the observed wavelength range toward bluer wavelengths, we optimize such studies to also include critical absorption lines in metal‐poor stars, and allow for studies of heavy elements (Z ≥ 38) whose formation processes remain poorly constrained. In this context, spectrographs optimized for observing blue wavelength ranges are essential, since many absorption lines at redder wavelengths are too weak to be detected in metal‐poor stars. This means that some elements cannot be studied in the visual‐redder regions, and important scientific tracers and science cases are lost. The present era of large public surveys will target millions of stars. It is therefore important that the next generation of spectrographs are designed such that they cover a wide wavelength range and can observe a large number of stars simultaneously. Only then, we can gain the full information from stellar spectra, from both metal‐poor to metal‐rich ones, that will allow us to understand the aforementioned formation scenarios in greater detail. Here we describe the requirements driving the design of the forthcoming survey instrument 4MOST, a multi‐object spectrograph commissioned for the ESO VISTA 4 m‐telescope. While 4MOST is also intended for studies of active galactic nuclei, baryonic acoustic oscillations, weak lensing, cosmological constants, supernovae and other transients, we focus here on high‐density, wide‐area survey of stars and the science that can be achieved with high‐resolution stellar spectroscopy. Scientific and technical requirements that governed the design are described along with a thorough line blending analysis. For the high‐resolution spectrograph, we find that a sampling of ≥2.5 (pixels per resolving element), spectral resolution of 18000 or higher, and a wavelength range covering 393–436 nm, is the most well‐balanced solution for the instrument. A spectrograph with these characteristics will enable accurate abundance analysis (±0.1 dex) in the blue and allow us to confront the outlined scientific questions. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nucleosynthesis and Stellar Evolution

Two of the basic building blocks of galaxies are stars and the interstellar medium. The evolution of the abundance composition in the latter and especially the enrichment of heavy elements as a function of space and time reflects in turn the history of star formation and the lifetimes of the diverse contributing stellar objects. Therefore, the understanding of stellar evolution and its endpoints (mainly planetary nebulae, supernovae of type Ia and type II/Ib/Ic) is essential. Despite many efforts, a full and self-consistent understanding of supernovae (the main contributors to nucleosynthesis in galaxies) is not existing, yet. However, they leave fingerprints, seen either in spectra, lightcurves, radioactivities/decay gamma-rays or in galactic evolution. Here we want to address the composition of ejecta, their model uncertainties and relate them to constraints from abundance observations in galactic evolution. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nucleosynthesis in Low and Intermediate Mass Stars – The Good, the Bad and the Unspoken

Stellar nucleosynthesis is the corner-stone of many astrophysical problems. Its understanding, which can be tested by countless observations, leads to insights into the stellar structure and evolution and provides crucial clues to the physics of galaxies and of the Universe. Precise answers can be given to the questions ‘When, where and how are the chemical elements synthesized in stars?’ However, in spite of the observational confirmation of many predictions, important weaknesses remain in many crucial details of the global view. We discuss here some of the theoretical developments which are required in order to improve the nucleosynthesis predictions for low and intermediate mass stars.     

3M⊙AGB星表面重元素丰度的演化

本文以１３Ｃ（ａ，ｎ）１６Ｏ及２２Ｎｅ（ａ，ｎ）２５Ｍｇ作为双脉冲中子源，对于质量为３Ｍ■、初始金属度为０．０１５的热脉冲ＡＧＢ星，采用无分叉ｓ－过程反应通道，结合最新恒星演化的计算结果、在各参量合理取值范围内，计算了表面重元素丰度和碳氧比（Ｃ／Ｏ）的演化并与观测值进行比较。结果表明，就轻重ｓ－元素丰度关系图和 Ｃ／Ｏ重元素丰度关系图而言，在各参量的合理取值范围内，理论计算曲线能够同时落入观测值区域之内，ＭＳ、Ｓ星和Ｃ星对应的平均中子辐照量范围是对ＡＧＢ星的ｓ－元素超丰影响较大。在达到渐近分布后才开始挖掘的合理假设下，其它因素（例如核心质量Ｍｃ、每次脉冲挖掘质量大小是否随脉冲数变化）对内禀ＡＧＢ星表面重元素超丰影响不大。何时发生第三次挖掘对ＭＳ、Ｓ星的重元素超丰情况影响较大，但Ｃ星丰度几乎不受影响。     

Abundance analysis of the cool extreme helium star LSS 3378

Abundance analysis of the cool extreme helium (EHe) star LSS 3378 is presented. The abundance analysis is done using local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) line formation and LTE model atmospheres constructed for EHe stars.
The atmosphere of LSS 3378 shows evidence of H-burning, He-burning, and s -process nucleosynthesis. The derived abundances of iron peak and α-elements indicate the absence of selective fractionation or any other processes that can distort chemical composition of these elements. Hence, the Fe abundance [log ε(Fe) = 6.1] is adopted as an initial metallicity indicator. The measured abundances of LSS 3378 are compared with those of R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars and with rest of the EHe stars as a group.     

AGB星核合成理论的研究进展

综述了近扯为ＡＧＢ星核合成的理论研究情况，包括轻，重核素核合成理论，ＡＧＢ星的分类，ＡＧＢ星的演化特征，ＡＧＢ星内的元素核合成理论的研究及外赋ＭＳ，Ｓ 双星吸积机制的研究情况。     

Imprints of spiral arms in the oxygen distribution over the galactic disc

A theory for the oxygen abundance radial distribution formation in the galactic disc of a spiral galaxy is developed. We take into account that the main sources of oxygen are Type II supernovae (SN II), the progenitors of which are massive short-lived stars strongly concentrated in the spiral arms. Hence oxygen is the most sensitive indicator of spiral arms' influence on galactic disc enrichment by heavy elements. Various models for the spiral density waves were analysed. We predict that the imprints in the oxygen radial distribution will enable us to distinguish between different models for spiral patterns. Among other parameters, the corotation radius happens to be one of the most important.     

Chemical evolution of the galactic halo

The chemical enrichment in the galactic halo is studied, on the basis of the numerical model developed in Paper I, with paricular attention to the overabundances of O and light elements with respect to Fe shown by metal poor stars. Some representative nucleosynthesis pictures for stars of both Population I and Population II are considered and their yields are compared with observations of relative abundances in the Sun and in the halo, to identify the possible reasons of the observed compositional differences. It is found that solar elemental ratios can be reproduced if intermediate mass stars are allowed to give some contribution to the production of Fe by type-I supernovae, while the ratios of abundances observed in the halo are more similar to the relative yields produced by massive stars. These features are shared by all the nucleosynthesis schemes which have been considered. Using the best model of Paper I, we show that the steep star formation induced by the collapse has a decisive effect in maintaining the overabundances of light elements during the whole evolution of the halo. The relevance of this conclusion is discussed also in the light of a possible interpretation of the differences between the two abundance scales for globular clusters.     

The site for r-process nucleosynthesis

Following our hypothesis that each supernova (SN) event triggers star formation in the swept-up gas, so that newly formed stars inherit the elemental abundance pattern of individual SNe, we deduce the production sites and yields for r-process elements. We further show that a strong evidence for the origin of r-process nucleosynthesis products was just there in our backyard - supernova SN1987A -, and conclude that 20 M _⊙ SNe are the predominant production sites for r-process elements. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

恒星尘埃的实验室研究--实验天体物理学

原始球粒陨石含有来自恒星的微小固体颗粒(微米级),这些尘埃的同位素组成与太阳系物质截然不同,它们是目前唯一能直接获得的恒星固体样品．已发现的恒星尘埃有金刚石、石墨、碳化硅、刚玉、尖晶石、氮化物、和硅酸盐等,它们的母体恒星包括红巨星,AGB恒星、新星和超新星．对恒星尘埃的研究,使得更深入地了解星系的化学演化历史、恒星内部的核反应和湍流机制、恒星大气中尘埃的形成、星际介质物理现象等．恒星尘埃把天体物理领域延伸到了微观世界,它有机地结合了地球化学实验技术和天体物理理论,开辟了一门崭新的天文学分支实验天体物理学．     

High resolution study of the abundance pattern of the heavy elements in very metal‐poor field stars

The abundances of heavy elements in EMP stars are not well explained by the simple view of an initial basic “rapid” process. In a careful and homogeneous analysis of the “First Stars” sample (eighty per cent of the stars have a metallicity [Fe/H] ≃ –3.1 ± 0.4), it has been shown that at this metallicity [Eu/Ba] is constant, and therefore the europium‐rich stars (generally called “r‐rich”) are also Ba‐rich. The very large variation of [Ba/Fe] (existence of “r‐poor” and “r‐rich” stars) induces that the early matter was not perfectly mixed. On the other hand, the distribution of the values of [Sr/Ba] vs. [Ba/Fe] appears with well defined upper and lower envelopes. No star was found with [Sr/Ba] < –0.5 and the scatter of [Sr/Ba] increases regularly when [Ba/Fe] decreases. To explain this behavior, we suggest that an early “additional” process forming mainly first peak elements would affect the initial composition of the matter. For a same quantity of accreted matter, this additional Sr production would barely affect the r‐rich matter (which already contains an important quantity of Sr) but would change significantly the composition of the r‐poor matter. The abundances found in the CEMP‐r+s stars reflect the transfer of heavy elements from a defunct AGB companion. But the abundances of the heavy elements in CEMP‐no stars present the same characteristics as the the abundances in the EMP stars. Direct stellar ages may be found from radioactive elements, the precision is limited by the precision in the measurements of abundances from faint lines in faint stars, and the uncertainty in the initial abundances of the radioactive elements. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

钡星系统轨道根数分布及丰度的Monte-Carlo模拟计算

采用星风质量吸积的角动量守恒模型，用Monte—Carlo方法研究了普通红巨星双星系统和钡星的轨道根数的变化规律，由于钡星系统是由普通红巨星双星系统演化而来，因此钡星系统的轨道偏心率及周期的分布显示了经过质量吸积后双星系统的最终轨道特征。计算结果表明，随着星风吸积过程的进行，在星风质量损失阶段系统轨道半长轴将增大，导致轨道周期增大，而偏心率变化不大，由此可以解释普通红巨星双星系统和钡星系统的轨道根数的分布规律和变化情况以及钡星重元素丰度分布特征。     

The chemical evolution of dwarf spheroidal galaxies: dissecting the inner regions and their stellar populations

Using three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of isolated dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs), we undertake an analysis of the chemical properties of their inner regions, identifying the respective roles played by Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and Type II supernovae (SNe II). The effect of inhomogeneous pollution from SNe Ia is shown to be prominent within two core radii, with the stars forming therein amounting to ∼20 per cent of the total. These stars are relatively iron-rich and α-element depleted compared to the stars forming in the rest of the galaxy. At odds with the projected stellar velocity dispersion radial profile, the actual three-dimensional one shows a depression in the central region, where the most metal-rich (i.e. [Fe/H]-rich) stars are partly segregated. This naturally results in two different stellar populations, with an anticorrelation between [Fe/H] and velocity dispersion, in the same sense as that observed in the Sculptor and Fornax dSphs. Because the most iron-rich stars in our model are also the most α depleted, a natural prediction and test of our model is that the same radial segregation effects should exist between [α/Fe] and velocity dispersion.     

The effect of massive binaries on stellar populations and supernova progenitors

We compare our latest single and binary stellar model results from the Cambridge stars code to several sets of observations. We examine four stellar population ratios: the number of blue to red supergiants, the number of Wolf–Rayet stars to O supergiants, the number of red supergiants to Wolf–Rayet stars and the relative number of Wolf–Rayet subtypes, WC to WN stars. These four ratios provide a quantitative measure of nuclear burning lifetimes and the importance of mass loss during various stages of the stars' lifetimes. In addition, we compare our models to the relative rate of Type Ib/c to Type II supernovae to measure the amount of mass lost over the entire lives of all stars. We find reasonable agreement between the observationally inferred values and our predicted values by mixing single and binary star populations. However, there is evidence that extra mass loss is required to improve the agreement further, to reduce the number of red supergiants and increase the number of Wolf–Rayet stars.