Iron abundances of B-type post-asymptotic giant branch stars in globular clusters: Barnard 29 in M 13 and ROA 5701 in ω Cen*

Abstract

High-resolution optical and ultraviolet (UV) spectra of two B-type post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars in globular clusters, Barnard 29 in M 13 and ROA 5701 in ω Cen, have been analysed using model atmosphere techniques. The optical spectra have been obtained with FEROS on the ESO 2.2-m telescope and the 2d-Coudé spectrograph on the 2.7-m McDonald telescope, while the UV observations are from the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Abundances of light elements (C, N, O, Mg, Al and S) plus Fe have been determined from the optical spectra, while the UV data provide additional Fe abundance estimates from Fe iii absorption lines in the 1875–1900 Å wavelength region. A general metal underabundance relative to young B-type stars is found for both Barnard 29 and ROA 5701. These results are consistent with the metallicities of the respective clusters, as well as with previous studies of the objects. The derived abundance patterns suggest that the stars have not undergone a gas–dust separation, contrary to previous suggestions, although they may have evolved from the AGB before the onset of the third dredge-up. However, the Fe abundances derived from the HST spectra are lower than those expected from the metallicities of the respective clusters, by 0.5 dex for Barnard 29 and 0.8 dex for ROA 5701. A similar systematic underabundance is also found for other B-type stars in environments of known metallicity, such as the Magellanic Clouds. These results indicate that the Fe iii UV lines may yield abundance values which are systematically too low by typically 0.6 dex and hence such estimates should be treated with caution.