We have derived elemental abundances of three field red horizontal branch
stars using high-resolution (R≃ 45,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N
≳ 200) H and K band spectra obtained with the Immersion Grating
Infrared Spectrograph (IGRINS). We have determined the abundances of 21
elements including α (Mg, Si, Ca, S), odd-Z (Na, Al, P, K), Fe-group
(Sc, Ti, Cr, Co, Ni), neutron-capture (Ce, Nd, Yb), and CNO group elements. S,
P and K are determined for the first time in these stars. H and K band
spectra provide a substantial number of S I lines, which potentially can lead
to a more robust exploration of the role of sulfur in the cosmochemical
evolution of the Galaxy. We have also derived 12C/13C ratios from
synthetic spectra of the first overtone (2−0) and (3−1) 12CO and
(2−0) 13CO lines near 23440 \AA\ and 13CO (3−1) lines at about
23730 \AA. Comparison of our results with the ones obtained from the optical
region suggests that the IGRINS high-resolution H and K band spectra offer
more internally self-consistent atomic lines of the same species for several
elements, especially the α elements. This in turn provides more reliable
abundances for the elements with analytical difficulties in the optical
spectral range.Comment: 36 pages, 13 figures, 10 tables, accepted for publication in Ap