Rubidium in Metal-Deficient Disk and Halo Stars

We report the first extensive study of stellar Rb abundances. High-resolution spectra have been used to determine, or set upper limits on, the abundances of this heavy element and the associated elements Y, Zr, and Ba in 44 dwarfs and giants with metallicities spanning the range -2.0 <[Fe/H] < 0.0. In metal-deficient stars Rb is systematically overabundant relative to Fe; we find an average [Rb/Fe] of +0.21 for the 32 stars with [Fe/H] < -0.5 and measured Rb. This behavior contrasts with that of Y, Zr, and Ba, which, with the exception of three new CH stars (HD 23439A and B and BD +5 3640), are consistently slightly deficient relative to Fe in the same stars; excluding the three CH stars, we find the stars with [Fe/H] < -0.5 have average [Y/Fe], [Zr/Fe], and [Ba/Fe] of --0.19 (24 stars), --0.12 (28 stars), and --0.06 (29 stars), respectively. The different behavior of Rb on the one hand and Y, Zr, and Ba on the other can be attributed in part to the fact that in the Sun and in these stars Rb has a large r-process component while Y, Zr, and Ba are mostly s-process elements with only small r-process components. In addition, the Rb s-process abundance is dependent on the neutron density at the s-processing site. Published observations of Rb in s-process enriched red giants indicate a higher neutron density in the metal-poor giants. These observations imply a higher s-process abundance for Rb in metal-poor stars. The calculated combination of the Rb r-process abundance, as estimated for the stellar Eu abundances, and the s-process abundance as estimated for red giants accounts satisfactorily for the observed run of [Rb/Fe] with [Fe/H].Comment: 23 pages, 5 tables, 7 figure

Early Galactic Evolution of Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen

We present results on carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen abundances for a sample of unevolved metal-poor stars with metallicities in the range -0.3< [Fe/H]< -3. Oxygen abundances derived from different indicators are compared showing consistently that in the range 0.3 >[Fe/H]>-3.0, the [O/Fe] ratio increases from approximately 0 to 1. We find a good agreement between abundances based on the forbidden line, the OH and IR triplet lines when gravities based on Hipparcos} parallaxes are considered for the sample stars. Gravities derived from LTE ionization balance in metal-poor stars with [Fe/H]< -1 are likely too low, and could be responsible for an underestimation of the oxygen abundances derived using the [OI] line. [C/Fe] and [N/Fe] ratios appear to be constant, independently of metallicity, in the same range. However, they show larger scatter than oxygen at a given metallicity, which could reflect the larger variety of stellar production sites for these other elements.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, To appear in the proceedings of the conference "The Chemical Evolution of The Milky Way: Stars versus Clusters", eds. F. Matteucci and F. Giovannelli, Vulcano, Italy, September 20-24 199

From the Heart of The Ghoul: C and N Abundances in the Corona of Algol B

Chandra Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrograph observations of Algol have been used to determine the abundances of C and N in the secondary star for the first time. The analysis was performed relative to similar observations of an adopted "standard" star HR 1099. It is demonstrated that HR 1099 and Algol are coronal twins in many respects and that their X-ray spectra are very similar in nearly all details, except for the observed strengths of C and N lines. The H-like transitions of C and N in the coronae of Algol and HR 1099 demonstrate that the surface abundances of Algol B have been strongly modified by CN-processing, as shown earlier by Schmitt & Ness (2002). It is found that N is enhanced in Algol B by a factor of 3 compared to HR 1099. No C lines are detected in the Algol spectrum, indicating a C depletion relative to HR 1099 by a factor of 10 or more. These C and N abundances indicate that Algol B must have lost at least half of its initial mass, and are consistent with predictions of evolutionary models that include non-conservative mass transfer and angular momentum loss through magnetic activity. Little or no dredge-up of material subjected to CN-processing has occurred on the subgiant component of HR 1099. It is concluded that Fe is very likely depleted in the coronae of both Algol and HR 1099 relative to their photospheres by 0.5 dex, and C, N and O by 0.3 dex. Instead, Ne is enhanced by up to 0.5 dex.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, ApJ accepte

Quantitative spectroscopy of close binary stars

The method of spectral disentangling has now created the opportunity for studying the chemical composition in previously inaccessible components of binary and multiple stars. This in turn makes it possible to trace their chemical evolution, a vital aspect in understanding the evolution of stellar systems. We review different ways to reconstruct individual spectra from eclipsing and non-eclipsing systems, and then concentrate on some recent applications to detached binaries with high-mass and intermediate-mass stars, and Algol-type mass-transfer systems.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of IAU Symposium 282 'From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets: Essential Modeling Tools

Nitrogen abundances in Planet-harbouring stars

We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of nitrogen abundances in 91 solar-type stars, 66 with and 25 without known planetary mass companions. All comparison sample stars and 28 planet hosts were analysed by spectral synthesis of the near-UV NH band at 3360 \AA observed at high resolution with the VLT/UVES,while the near-IR NI 7468 \AA was measured in 31 objects. These two abundance indicators are in good agreement. We found that nitrogen abundance scales with that of iron in the metallicity range -0.6 <[Fe/H]< +0.4 with the slope 1.08 \pm 0.05. Our results show that the bulk of nitrogen production at high metallicities was coupled with iron. We found that the nitrogen abundance distribution in stars with exoplanets is the high [Fe/H] extension of the curve traced by the comparison sample of stars with no known planets. A comparison of our nitrogen abundances with those available in the literature shows a good agreement.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in A&

Detailed Analysis of Nearby Bulgelike Dwarf Stars III. Alpha and Heavy-element abundances

The present sample of nearby bulgelike dwarf stars has kinematics and metallicities characteristic of a probable inner disk or bulge origin. Ages derived by using isochrones give 10-11 Gyr for these stars and metallicities are in the range -0.80< [Fe/H]< +0.40. We calculate stellar parameters from spectroscopic data, and chemical abundances of Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, La, Ba, Y, Zr and Eu are derived by using spectrum synthesis. We found that [alpha-elements/Fe] show different patterns depending on the element. Si, Ca and Ti-to-iron ratios decline smoothly for increasing metallicities, and follow essentially the disk pattern. O and Mg, products of massive supernovae, and also the r-process element Eu, are overabundant relative to disk stars, showing a steeper decline for metallicities [Fe/H] > -0.3 dex. [s-elements/Fe] roughly track the solar values with no apparent trend with metallicity for [Fe/H] < 0, showing subsolar values for the metal rich stars. Both kinematical and chemical properties of the bulgelike stars indicate a distinct identity of this population when compared to disk stars.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, to appear in Ap

The Lyman-alpha Forest and Heavy Element Systems of GB1759+7539

(abridged) We present observations of the high-redshift QSO GB1759+7539 (z=3.05) obtained with HIRES on the Keck 10m telescope. The spectrum has a resolution of FWHM = 7 km/s, and a typical signal-to-noise ratio per 2 km/s pixel of ~25 in the Ly-alpha forest region, and ~60 longward of the Ly-alpha emission. The observed Ly-alpha forest systems have a mean redshift of z=2.7. There is marginal evidence of clustering along the line of sight over the velocity range 100 < v < 250 km/s. The 1-point and 2-point joint probability distributions of the transmitted flux for the Ly-alpha forest were calculated, and shown to be very insensitive to the heavy element contamination. We could find no evidence of Voigt profile departures due to infalling gas, as observed in the simulated forest spectra. Twelve heavy-element absorption systems were identified, including damped Lyman-alpha systems at z=2.62 and 2.91. The C, N, O, Al, Si, P, S, Mg, Fe, and Ni absorption features of these systems were studied, and the elemental abundances calculated for the weak unsaturated lines. The systems have metallicities of Z(2.62) ~1/20 Z(solar) and Z(2.91) \~1/45 Z(solar). Both systems appear to have a low dust content. They show an over-abundance of alpha-elements relative to Fe-peak elements, and an under-abundance of odd atomic number elements relative to even. Nitrogen was observed, and found to be under-abundant relative to oxygen, in line with the time delay model of primary nitrogen production. C II* was also seen, allowing us to determine an upper limit to the cosmic microwave background temperature at z=2.62 of T(CMB)<12.9K.Comment: Added reference, and new S & N abundance determinations for z=2.91 syste

Chromospheric changes in K stars with activity

We study the differences in chromospheric structure induced in K stars by stellar activity, to expand our previous work for G stars, including the Sun as a star. We selected six stars of spectral type K with 0.82$<B-V<$0.90, including the widely studied Epsilon Eridani and a variety of magnetic activity levels. We computed chromospheric models for the stars in the sample, in most cases in two different moments of activity. The models were constructed to obtain the best possible match with the Ca II K and the H$\beta$ observed profiles. We also computed in detail the net radiative losses for each model to constrain the heating mechanism that can maintain the structure in the atmosphere. We find a strong correlation between these losses and \Sc, the index generally used as a proxy for activity, as we found for G stars

The role of the time step and overshooting in the modelling of PMS evolution: the case of EK Cephei

We have produced detailed evolutionary models of the binary EK Cep using the CESAM stellar evolution code (Morel 1997). A $\chi^2$-minimisation was performed to derive the most reliable set of modelling parameters. We have found that an evolutionary age of about 26.8 Myrs fits both components in the same isochrone. The positions of EK Cep A and B in the HR diagram are consistent (within the observational uncertainties) with our results. Our revised calibration shows clearly that EK Cep is in the beginning of the main sequence, while EK Cep B is indeed a PMS star. Such a combination allows for a precise age determination of the binary, and provides a strict test of the modelling. In particular we have found that the definition of the time step in calculating the PMS evolution is crucial to reproduce the observations. A discussion of the optimal time step for calculating PMS evolution is presented. The fitting to the radii of both components is a more difficult task; although we managed to do it for EK Cep B, EK Cep A has a lower radius than our best models. We further studied the effect of the inclusion of a moderate convective overshooting; the calibration of the binary is not significantly altered, but the effect of the inclusion of overshooting can be dramatic in the approach to the main sequence of stars with masses high enough to burn hydrogen through the CNO cycle on the main sequence.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Structure and Evolution of Nearby Stars with Planets. I. Short-Period Systems

Using the Yale stellar evolution code, we have calculated theoretical models for nearby stars with planetary-mass companions in short-period nearly circular orbits: 51 Pegasi, Tau Bootis, Upsilon Andromedae, Rho Cancri, and Rho Coronae Borealis. We present tables listing key stellar parameters such as mass, radius, age, and size of the convective envelope as a function of the observable parameters (luminosity, effective temperature, and metallicity), as well as the unknown helium fraction. For each star we construct best models based on recently published spectroscopic data and the present understanding of galactic chemical evolution. We discuss our results in the context of planet formation theory, and, in particular, tidal dissipation effects and stellar metallicity enhancements.Comment: 48 pages including 13 tables and 5 figures, to appear in Ap