Stellar population synthesis of post-AGB stars: the s-process in MACHO47.2496.8

The low-metallicity RV Tauri star MACHO47.2496.8, recently discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is highly enriched in carbon and heavy elements produced by the slow neutron capture process (s-process), and is most probably a genuine post-C(N-type) asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star. We use the analysis of the abundances of MACHO47.2496.8 to constrain free parameters in AGB models. We test which values of the free parameters describing uncertain physical mechanisms in AGB stars, namely the third dredge-up and the features of the 13C neutron source, produce models that better match the abundances observed in MACHO47.2496.8. We carry out stellar population synthesis coupled with s-process nucleosynthesis using a synthetic stellar evolution code. The s-process ratios observed in MACHO47.2496.8 can be matched by the same models that explain the s-process ratios of Galactic AGB and post-AGB stars of metallicity > Z_sun/10, except for the choice of the effectiveness of 13C as a neutron source, which has to be lower by roughly a factor of 3 to 6. The less effective neutron source for lower metallicities is also required when comparing population synthesis results to observations of Galactic halo $s$-enhanced stars, such as Pb stars. The 12C/13C ratio in MACHO47.2496.8 cannot be matched simultaneously and requires the occurrence of extra-mixing processes. The confirmed trend of the decreased efficiency of the 13C neutron source with metallicity requires an explanation from AGB s-process models. The present work is to date the first comparison between theoretical models and the detailed abundances of an extragalactic post-AGB star.Comment: accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter

IRAS08281-4850 and IRAS14325-6428: two A-type post-AGB stars with s-process enrichment

One of the puzzling findings in the study of the chemical evolution of (post-)AGB stars is why very similar stars (in terms of metallicity, spectral type, infrared properties, etc...) show a very different photospheric composition. We aim at extending the still limited sample of s-process enriched post-AGB stars, in order to obtain a statistically large enough sample that allows us to formulate conclusions concerning the 3rd dredge-up occurrence. We selected two post-AGB stars on the basis of IR colours indicative of a past history of heavy mass loss: IRAS08281-4850 and IRAS14325-6428. They are cool sources in the locus of the Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in the IRAS colour-colour diagram. Abundances of both objects were derived for the first time on the basis of high-quality UVES and EMMI spectra, using a critically compiled line list with accurate log(gf) values, together with the latest Kurucz model atmospheres. Both objects have very similar spectroscopically defined effective temperatures of 7750-8000K. They are strongly carbon and s-process enriched, with a C/O ratio of 1.9 and 1.6, and an [ls/Fe] of +1.7 and +1.2, for IRAS08281 and IRAS14325 resp. Moreover, the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) point to heavy mass-loss during the preceding AGB phase. IRAS08281 and IRAS14325 are prototypical post-AGB objects in the sense that they show strong post 3rd dredge-up chemical enrichments. The neutron irradiation has been extremely efficient, despite the only mild sub-solar metallicity. This is not conform with the recent chemical models. The existence of very similar post-AGB stars without any enrichment emphasizes our poor knowledge of the details of the AGB nucleosynthesis and dredge-up phenomena. We call for a very systematic chemical study of all cool sources in the PN region of the IRAS colour-colour diagram.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted by A&

First detection of photospheric depletion in the LMC

Recent photospheric abundance studies of galactic field RV Tauri stars show that depletion of refractory elements is rather common in these evolved objects. The process that creates this chemical anomaly is not understood well, but it probably requires the presence of gravitationally bound dust in a binary system. We test for the presence of depletion in extra-galactic objects. A detailed photospheric abundance study on the basis of high-quality UVES spectra was performed on the RV Tauri star in the LMC: MACHO82.8405.15. Abundances were derived using a critically compiled line list with accurate log(gf) values and the latest Kurucz model atmospheres. With [Fe/H]=-2.6 in combination with [Zn/Fe]=+2.3 and [S/Ti]=+2.5, MACHO82.8405.15 displays a strong depletion abundance pattern. The effect of the depletion is comparable to the strongest depletions seen in field Galactic RV Tauri stars. The chemical analysis of MACHO82.8405.15 proves that the depletion process also occurs in the extragalactic members of the RV Tauri pulsation class. Our program star is a member of a larger sample of LMC RV Tauri objects. This sample is unique, since the distances of the members are well-constrained. Further studies of this sample are therefore expected to gain deeper insight into the poorly understood depletion phenomenon and of the evolutionary status of RV Tauri stars in general.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted by A&A Letter

A study of the s-process in the carbon-rich post-AGB stars IRAS06530-0213 and IRAS08143-4406 on the basis of VLT-UVES spectra

In an effort to extend the still limited sample of s-process enriched post-AGB stars, high-resolution, high signal-to-noise VLT+UVES spectra of the optical counterparts of the infrared sources IRAS06530-0213 and IRAS08143-4406 were analysed. The objects are moderately metal deficient by [Fe/H]=-0.5 and -0.4 respectively, carbon-rich and, above all, heavily s-process enhanced with a [ls/Fe] of 1.8 and 1.5 respectively. Especially the spectrum of IRAS06530-0213 is dominated by transitions of s-process species, and therefore resembling the spectrum of IRAS05341+0852, the most s-process enriched object known so far. The two objects are chemically very similar to the 21micron objects discussed in Van Winckel & Reyniers (2000). A homogeneous comparison with the results of these objects reveals that the relation between the third dredge-up efficiency and the neutron nucleosynthesis efficiency found for the 21micron objects, is further strengthened. On the other hand, a detailed comparison with the predictions of the latest AGB models indicates that the observed spread in nucleosynthesis efficiency is certainly intrinsic, and proves that different C-13 pockets are needed for stars with comparable mass and metallicity to explain their abundances.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A; Table 4 is available at ftp://ftp.ster.kuleuven.ac.be/dist/maarten/filescds/ pending upload to CD

Production of bio-Olefins: tall-oils and waste greases to green chemicals and polymers

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Probing the mass-loss history of the unusual Mira variable R Hydrae through its infrared CO wind

Context. The unusual Mira variable R Hya is well known for its declining period between AD 1770 and 1950, which is possibly attributed to a recent thermal pulse. Aims. The goal of this study is to probe the circumstellar envelope (CSE) around R Hya and to check for a correlation between the derived density structure and the declining period. Methods. We investigate the CSE around R Hya by performing an in-depth analysis of (1.) the photospheric light scattered by three vibration-rotation transitions in the fundamental band of CO at 4.6 $mu$m; and (2.) the pure rotational CO J = 1-0 through 6-5 emission lines excited in the CSE. The vibrational-rotational lines trace the inner CSE within 3.5´´, whereas the pure rotational CO lines are sensitive probes of the cooler gas further out in the CSE. Results. The combined analysis bear evidence of a change in mass-loss rate some 220 yr ago (at ~150 $R_{star}$ or ~1.9 arcsec from the star). While the mass-loss rate before AD 1770 is estimated to be ~ 2 imes 10^ $M_{odot}$/yr, the present day mass-loss rate is a factor of ~20 lower. The derived mass-loss history nicely agrees with the mass-loss rate estimates by Zijlstra et al. (2002) on the basis of the period decline. Moreover, the recent detection of an AGB-ISM bow shock around R Hya at 100 arcsec to the west by Wareing et al. (2006) shows that the detached shell seen in the 60 $mu$m IRAS images can be explained by a slowing-down of the stellar wind by surrounding matter and that no extra mass-loss modulation around 1-2 arcmin needs to be invoked. Conclusions. Our results give empirical evidence to the thermal-pulse model, which is capable of explaining both the period evolution and the mass-loss history of R Hya