NLTE Abundance Research Articles

The Pristine survey – XXII. A serendipitous discovery of an extremely Li-rich very metal-poor giant and a new method of 6Li/7Li isotope measurement

ABSTRACT We report the serendipitous discovery of a very metal-poor (VMP) Li-rich giant star (Teff = 4690 ± 80 K, log g = 1.34 ± 0.13, [Fe/H] = −2.43 ± 0.07). We analyse the Li i 6103 and 6707 Å lines accounting for departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) and correcting for 3D effects using literature data, which yields a lithium abundance log εLi = 3.42 ± 0.07. Comparing lithium abundances from the two lines, in 1D NLTE we measure the isotope ratio 6Li/7Li = 1.64$^{+1.49}_{-1.08}$ per cent. When correcting for 3D effects, we detect the fragile 6Li isotope at 2-sigma level and the ratio 6Li/7Li = 5.65$^{+5.05}_{-2.51}$ per cent. To our knowledge, this is the first 6Li/7Li measurement in an extremely Li-rich VMP star. The Cameron–Fowler mechanism, which is proposed to produce Li-rich stars, does not imply 6Li production and is therefore inconsistent with our measurement when applying 3D corrections. We also derive NLTE abundances for 16 elements, most of which show similar abundances to those found in VMP stars. Sodium is an exception: [Na/Fe]NLTE1D = 0.07 ± 0.03, which is 0.5 dex higher than what is typical for VMP stars. This star joins the sample of rare Li-rich VMP stars, and we offer a novel way to constrain the source of lithium in such stars through isotope ratio measurements.

Non-LTE Abundances of Helium, Magnesium, and Silicon in the Atmosphere of the Bp He-weak Star HD 175156

The synthesis of the spectral range 4400–4600 Å in UVES spectra of HD 175156 allows to estimate NLTE abundances of helium, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium and silicon for this evolved B subgiant. The NLTE models used are published models from the BSTAR grid. Compared to the solar abundances, helium and magnesium are found to be overabundant by a factor of 2.0, oxygen and silicon underabundant by a factor of 0.75. Nitrogen has a solar abundance. The overabundances of helium and magnesium are reduced compared to their determinations in Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium.

Non-LTE abundance corrections for late-type stars from 2000 Å to 3 µm

Context. It is well known that cool star atmospheres depart from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). Making an accurate abundance determination requires taking those effects into account, but the necessary non-LTE (hereafter NLTE) calculations are often lacking. Aims. Our goal is to provide detailed estimates of NLTE effects for FGK type stars for all spectral lines from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near infrared (NIR) that are potentially useful as abundance diagnostics. The first paper in this series focusses on the light elements Na, Mg, and Al. Methods. The code PySME was used to compute curves of growth for 2158 MARCS model atmospheres in the parameter range 3800 < Teff < 8000 K, 0.0 < log(g) < 5.5, and −5 < [Fe/H] < +0.5. Two microturbulence values, 1 and 2 kms−1, and nine abundance points spanning −1 < [X/Fe] < 1 for element X, are used to construct individual line curves of growth by calculating the equivalent widths of 35 Na lines, 134 Mg lines, and 34 Al lines. The lines were selected in the wavelength range between 2000 Å and 3 µm. Results. We demonstrate the power of the new grids with LTE and NLTE abundance analysis by means of equivalent width measurements of five benchmark stars; the Sun, Arcturus, HD 84937, HD 140283 and HD 122563. For Na, the NLTE abundances are lower than in LTE and show markedly reduced line-to-line scatter in the metal-poor stars. For Mg, we confirm previous reports of a significant ~0.25 dex LTE ionisation imbalance in metal-poor stars that is only slightly improved in NLTE (~0.18 dex). LTE abundances based on Mg II lines agree better with models of Galactic chemical evolution. For Al, NLTE calculations strongly reduce an ~0.6 dex ionisation imbalance seen in LTE for the metal-poor stars. The abundance corrections presented in this work are in good agreement with previous studies for the subset of lines that overlap, with the exception of strongly saturated lines. Conclusions. A consensus between different abundance diagnostics is the most powerful tool available to stellar spectroscopists to assess the accuracy of the models. Here we report that NLTE abundance analysis in general leads to improved agreement, in particular for metal-poor stars. The residual scatter is believed to be caused mainly by unresolved blends and/or poor atomic data, with the notable exception of Mg, which calls for further investigation.

The Impact of Inelastic Collisions with Hydrogen on NLTE Copper Abundances in Metal-poor Stars

We investigate the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE, hereafter NLTE) analysis for Cu i lines with the updated model atom that includes quantum-mechanical rate coefficients of Cu + H and Cu+ + H− inelastic collisions from the recent study of Belyaev et al. The influence of these data on NLTE abundance determinations has been performed for six metal-poor stars in a metallicity range of −2.59 dex ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −0.95 dex. For Cu i lines, the application of accurate atomic data leads to a decrease in the departure from LTE and lower copper abundances compared to that obtained with Drawin’s theoretical approximation. To verify our adopted copper atomic model, we also derived the LTE copper abundances of Cu ii lines for the sample stars. A consistent copper abundance from the Cu i (NLTE) and Cu ii (LTE) lines has been obtained, which indicates the reliability of our copper atomic model. It is noted that the [Cu/Fe] ratios increase with increasing metallicity when ∼−2.0 dex < [Fe/H] < ∼−1.0 dex, favoring a secondary (metallicity-dependent) copper production.

Chemical diversity among A–B stars with low rotational velocities: non-LTE abundance analysis

ABSTRACT We present accurate element abundance patterns based on the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE, NLTE) line formation for 14 chemical elements from He to Nd for a sample of nine A9 to B3-type stars with well-determined atmospheric parameters and low rotational velocities. We constructed new model atom of Zr ii–iii and updated model atoms for Sr ii and Ba ii by implementing the photoionization cross-sections from calculations with the Dirac B-spline R-matrix method. The NLTE abundances of He to Fe in the stars HD 17081, HD 32115, HD 160762, and HD 209459 are found to be consistent with the solar abundances, and HD 73666 being a Blue Straggler does not reveal deviations from chemical composition of the Praesepe cluster. Three of these stars with an effective temperature of lower than 10 500 K have supersolar abundances of Sr, Zr, Ba, and Nd, and our results suggest the presence of a positive correlation between stellar effective temperature and abundance. For each star, enhancement of Ba is higher than that for any other heavy element. We propose that the solar Ba abundance is not representative of the galactic Ba abundance at modern epoch. The status of HD 145788 was not clarified: This star has solar abundances of C to Si and enhancements of Sr to Ba similar to that for superficially normal stars of similar temperature, while Ca, Ti, and Fe are overabundant. The NLTE abundances of Vega support its status of a mild λ Bootis star.

Non-LTE Analyses of High-resolution H-band Spectra. III. Neutral and Singly Ionized Calcium

Abstract A calcium atomic model is updated using collisional rates from new quantum-mechanical computations. We investigated the reliability of the model atom and the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE or non-LTE) effects on the formation of Ca i lines in both optical and H bands. NLTE and local thermodynamical equilibrium calcium abundances of 13 sample stars are derived from high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra and the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) data. The results suggest that the updated calcium atomic model is appropriate for studying the formation of H-band calcium lines because our NLTE analyses not only reduce the line-to-line spread of derived abundances, but also lead to consistent optical-line-based and H-band-line-based abundances with a difference of −0.009 ± 0.035 dex and a calcium ionization balance between Ca i and Ca ii. In the stellar fundamental parameter space that our sample stars cover, NLTE corrections for H-band Ca i lines are small, within 0.03 dex. Even in the extreme cases of the APOGEE data, the NLTE corrections on selected H-band Ca i lines are within 0.1 dex.

Early chemical enrichment of the Milky Way dwarf satellites from high-resolution and NLTE analysis of VMP stars

AbstractWe present the NLTE abundances of 10 chemical species in 65 very metal-poor stars in eight dSphs and the Milky Way halo. The classical dSphs Sculptor, Ursa Minor, Sextans, and Fornax reveal a similar plateau at [α/Fe] = 0.3 for each of Mg, Ca, and Ti, similarly to the MW halo. We provide the evidence for a decline in α/Fe in the Boötes I UFD, that is probably due to the ejecta of SNeIa. The dichotomy in the [Sr/Ba] versus [Ba/H] diagram is observed in the classical dSphs, similarly to the MW halo, calling for two different nucleosynthesis channels for Sr. The Boötes I and UMa II UFDs reveal very similar ratios of [Sr/Mg] = −1.3 and [Ba/Mg] = –1. The stars in the Coma Berenices and Leo IV UFDs are even poorer in Sr and Ba. The subsolar Sr/Ba ratios of Boötes I and UMa II indicate a common r-process origin of their n-capture elements.

The Relationship of Sodium and Oxygen in Galactic Field RR Lyrae Stars

We analyzed 62 high-resolution spectra of 30 Galactic Field RR Lyrae-type stars with the aim of deriving their atmospheric parameters (Teff, , Vt), metallicity ([Fe/H]), radial velocities, and NLTE abundances of oxygen and sodium. We found that there is no clear anti-correlation between [O/Fe] and [Na/Fe] as is seen in globular clusters. On this basis, we conclude that the majority of field RR Lyrae-type stars should hardly be considered to be remnants of the dissolution of globular clusters.

Galactic evolution of copper in the light of NLTE computations

We have developed a model atom for Cu with which we perform statistical equilibrium computations that allow us to compute the line formation of Cu I lines in stellar atmospheres without assuming Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE). We validate this model atom by reproducing the observed line profiles of the Sun, Procyon and eleven metal-poor stars. Our sample of stars includes both dwarfs and giants. Over a wide range of stellar parameters we obtain excellent agreement among different Cu I lines. The eleven metal-poor stars have iron abundances in the range -4.2 <= [Fe/H] <= -1.4, the weighted mean of the [Cu/Fe] ratios is -0.22 dex, with a scatter of -0.15 dex. This is very different from the results from LTE analysis (the difference between NLTE and LTE abundances reaches 1 dex) and in spite of the small size of our sample it prompts for a revision of the Galactic evolution of Cu.

Abundances of Na, Mg, and K in the atmospheres of red giant branch stars of Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae

We study the abundances of Na, Mg, and K in the atmospheres of 32 RGB stars in the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) 47 Tuc, with the goal to investigate the possible existence of Na-K and Mg-K correlations/anti-correlations, similar to those that were recently discovered in two other GGCs, NGC 2419 and 2808. The abundances of K, Na, and Mg were determined using high-resolution 2df spectra obtained with the AAT. The 1D NLTE abundance estimates were obtained using 1D hydrostatic ATLAS9 model atmospheres and spectral line profiles synthesized with the MULTI package. We also used 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD and 1D hydrostatic LHD model atmospheres to compute 3D-1D LTE abundance corrections, $\Delta_{\rm 3D-1D~LTE}$, for the spectral lines of Na, Mg, and K used in our study. These abundance corrections were used to understand the role of convection in the formation of spectral lines, as well as to estimate the differences in the abundances obtained with the 3D hydrodynamical and 1D hydrostatic model atmospheres. The average element-to-iron abundance ratios and their RMS variations due to star-to-star abundance spreads determined in our sample of RGB stars were $\langle{\rm [Na/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.42\pm0.13$, $\langle{\rm [Mg/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.41\pm0.11$, and $\langle{\rm [K/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.05\pm0.14$. We found no statistically significant relations between the abundances of the three elements studied here. Also, there were no abundance trends with the distance from the cluster center, nor any statistically significant relations between the abundance/abundance ratios and absolute radial velocities of individual stars. All these facts suggest the similarity of K abundance in stars that belong to different generations in 47 Tuc which, in turn, may hint that evolution of K in this particular cluster was unrelated to the nucleosynthesis of Na and/or Mg.

Atomic diffusion and mixing in old stars

The prediction of the PLANCK-constrained primordial lithium abundance in the Universe is in discordance with the observed Li abundances in warm Population II dwarf and subgiant stars. Among the physically best motivated ideas, it has been suggested that this discrepancy can be alleviated if the stars observed today had undergone photospheric depletion of lithium. The cause of this depletion is investigated by accurately tracing the behaviour of the lithium abundances as a function of effective temperature. Globular clusters are ideal laboratories for such an abundance analysis as the relative stellar parameters of their stars can be precisely determined. We performed a homogeneous chemical abundance analysis of 144 stars in the metal-poor globular cluster M30, ranging from the cluster turnoff point to the tip of the red giant branch. NLTE abundances for Li, Ca, and Fe were derived where possible. Stellar parameters were derived by matching isochrones to the observed V vs V-I colour-magnitude diagram. Independent effective temperatures were obtained from automated profile fitting of the Balmer lines and by applying colour-T_eff calibrations to the broadband photometry. Li abundances of the turnoff and early subgiant stars form a thin plateau that is broken off abruptly in the middle of the SGB as a result of the onset of Li dilution caused by the first dredge-up. Abundance trends with effective temperature for Fe and Ca are observed and compared to predictions from stellar structure models including atomic diffusion and ad hoc additional mixing below the surface convection zone. The comparison shows that the stars in M30 are affected by atomic diffusion and additional mixing. After applying a conservative correction for atomic diffusion, we find an initial Li abundance of A(Li) = $2.48\pm0.10$ for the globular cluster M30.

Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae: new ties between the chemical and dynamical evolution of globular clusters?

It is generally accepted today that Galactic globular clusters (GGCs) consist of at least two generations of stars that are different in their chemical composition and perhaps age. However, knowledge about the kinematical properties of these stellar generations, which may provide important information for constraining evolutionary scenarios of the GGCs, is still limited. We therefore study the connections between chemical and kinematical properties of different stellar generations in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc. To achieve this goal, we used abundances of Li, O, and Na determined in 101 main sequence turn-off (TO) stars with the aid of 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres and NLTE abundance analysis methodology. We divided our sample TO stars into three groups according to their position in the [Li/Na]-[Na/O] plane to study their spatial distribution and kinematical properties. We find that there are statistically significant radial dependencies of lithium and oxygen abundances, A(Li) and A(O), as well as that of [Li/Na] abundance ratio. Our results show that first-generation stars are less centrally concentrated and dynamically hotter than stars belonging to subsequent generations. We also find a significant correlation between the velocity dispersion and O and Na abundance, and between the velocity dispersion and the [Na/O] abundance ratio.

A comprehensive near- and far-ultraviolet spectroscopic study of the hot DA white dwarf G191-B2B

We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of the hot DA white dwarf G191-B2B, using the best signal to noise, high resolution near and far UV spectrum obtained to date. This is constructed from co-added \textit{HST} STIS E140H, E230H, and \textit{FUSE} observations, covering the spectral ranges of 1150-3145\AA\, and 910-1185\AA\, respectively. With the aid of recently published atomic data, we have been able to identify previously undetected absorption features down to equivalent widths of only a few m\AA. In total, 976 absorption features have been detected to $3\sigma$ confidence or greater, with 947 of these lines now possessing an identification, the majority of which are attributed to Fe and Ni transitions. In our survey, we have also potentially identified an additional source of circumstellar material originating from Si {\sc iii}. While we confirm the presence of Ge detected by \citet{vennes05a}, we do not detect any other species. Furthermore, we have calculated updated abundances for C, N, O, Si, P, S, Fe, and Ni, while also calculating, for the first time, an NLTE abundance for Al, deriving Al {\sc iii}/H=$1.60_{-0.08}^{+0.07}\times{10}^{-7}$. Our analysis constitutes what is the most complete spectroscopic survey of any white dwarf. All observed absorption features in the \textit{FUSE} spectrum have now been identified, and relatively few remain elusive in the STIS spectrum.

A systematic study of NLTE abundances of nearby stars

AbstractApproximately 80 stars from the thin disk, the thick disk and the halo of the Galaxy, in the range of −3.0 &lt; [Fe/H] &lt; +0.5, surface gravity of 3.0 &lt; logg &lt; 4.7 and temperature of 4500 K &lt; Teff &lt; 6500 K, have been observed with the Shane/Hamilton and CFHT/Espadons spectrographs in order to carry out a systematic NLTE study of nearby stars in a consistent way. We will determine reliably stellar parameters and determine precise elemental abundances via a comprehensive NLTE analysis of the spectral lines of Li, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Fe, Sr, Zr, Ba, Nd, and Eu elements. Finally, we aim to investigate the chemical evolution of the Galaxy through different stellar populations based on the NLTE abundances for total 15 elements.

Non-LTE Abundances of Sodium in the Atmospheres of Red Giants of the Thick and Thin Galactic Disks

AbstractWe determined NLTE abundances of Na in the atmospheres of 80 red giants including the 33 stars of the thin disk, 35 stars of the thick disk and 12 stars of Hercules stream.

NLTE formation of the solar spectrum of silicon: Abundance of silicon in a three-dimensional model of the solar atmosphere

We investigated the NLTE formation of the solar spectrum of neutral silicon using 3D hydrodynamic model of the solar atmosphere and realistic atomic model. We show that, within the intergranular region, combined action of the deficit in the source function and excess in opacity due to the overpopulation of the lower Si I levels leads to a considerably higher increase in the central depth D and equivalent width W of these lines as compared to the granules. We have fitted silicon abundances AW and AD from the equivalent widths W and central depths D for 65 Si I lines using a 3D model. We show that a total error in the calculated silicon abundance due to neglecting NLTE and 3D effects, as well as the uncertainty in the van der Waals broadening constant γ6, turns out to be −0.1 dex. Using a semiclassical theory by Anstee, Barklem, and O’Mara in calculating γ6 yields a fair coincidence between the values of AW and AD, because the average difference AW — AD does not exceed 0.01 dex for both NLTE and LTE. When applying the Unsold’s approximation in calculating γ6 with an enhancement factor E = 1.5, the abundances AW and AD proved to be in disagreement with one another. We analyzed the “solar” oscillator strength scale by Gurtovenko and Kostik, as well as the experimental one by Garz and Becker et al. We show that using “solar” oscillator strengths log gfw leads to a minimum trend with the equivalent widths for NLTE abundances AW, AD, their difference AW — AD, and standard deviations. The NLTE abundance of silicon obtained using solar oscillator strength scale by Gurtovenko and Kostik is AWNTLE = 7.549 ± 0.016. This value is in good agreement with the value of silicon abundance recommended by Grevesse and Sauval for the CI chondrite meteorites.

NLTE analysis of Sr lines in spectra of late-type stars with new R-matrix atomic data

We investigate statistical equilibrium of neutral and singly-ionized strontium in late-type stellar atmospheres. Particular attention is given to the completeness of the model atom, which includes new energy levels, transition probabilities, photoionization and electron-impact excitation cross-sections computed with the R-matrix method. The NLTE model is applied to the analysis of Sr I and Sr II lines in the spectra of the Sun, Procyon, Arcturus, and HD 122563, showing a significant improvement in the ionization balance compared to LTE line formation calculations, which predict abundance discrepancies of up to 0.5 dex. The solar Sr abundance is log A = 2.93 \pm 0.04 dex, in agreement with the meteorites. A grid of NLTE abundance corrections for Sr I and Sr II lines covering a large range of stellar parameters is presented.

NLTE effects on Fe I/II in the atmospheres of FGK stars and application to the abundance analysis of their spectra

We describe the first results from our project aimed at large-scale calculations of NLTE abundance corrections for important astrophysical atoms and ions. In this paper, the focus is on Fe which is a proxy of stellar metallicity and is commonly used to derive effective temperature and surface gravity. We present a small grid of NLTE abundance corrections for a sample of Fe I lines and discuss how the NLTE effects influence the determination of effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity for late-type stars.

Ionization balance of Ti in the photospheres of the Sun and four late-type stars

In this paper we investigate statistical equilibrium of Ti in the atmospheres of late-type stars. The Ti I/Ti II level populations are computed with available experimental atomic data, except for photoionization and collision induced transition rates, for which we have to rely on theoretical approximations. For the Sun, the NLTE line formation with adjusted H I inelastic collision rates and MAFAGS-OS model atmosphere solve the long-standing discrepancy between Ti I and Ti II lines. The NLTE abundances determined from both ionization stages agree within $0.01$ dex with each other and with the Ti abundance in C I meteorites. The Ti NLTE model does not perform similarly well for the metal-poor stars, overestimating NLTE effects in the atmospheres of dwarfs, but underestimating overionization for giants. Investigating different sources of errors, we find that only [Ti/Fe] ratios based on Ti II and Fe II lines can be safely used in studies of Galactic chemical evolution. To avoid spurious abundance trends with metallicity and dwarf/giant discrepancies, it is strongly recommended to disregard Ti I lines in abundance analyses, as well as in determination of surface gravities.

First stars

The chemical composition of extremely metal-poor stars (EMP stars; [Fe/H]<~ -3) is a unique tracer of early nucleosynthesis in the Galaxy. As such stars are rare, we wish to find classes of luminous stars which can be studied at high resolution. We aim to determine the detailed chemical composition of the two EMP stars CS30317-056 and CS22881-039, originally thought to be red horizontal-branch (RHB) stars, and compare it to earlier results for EMP stars as well as to nucleosynthesis yields from various supernova (SN) models. In the analysis, we discovered that our targets are in fact the two most metal-poor RR Lyrae stars known. Our detailed abundance analysis, taking into account the variability of the stars, is based on VLT/UVES spectra (R~ 43000) and 1D LTE OSMARCS model atmospheres and synthetic spectra. For comparison with SN models we also estimate NLTE corrections for a number of elements. We derive LTE abundances for the 16 elements O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Sr and Ba, in good agreement with earlier values for EMP dwarf, giant and RHB stars. Li and C are not detected in either star. NLTE abundance corrections are newly calculated for O and Mg and taken from the literature for other elements. The resulting abundance pattern is best matched by model yields for supernova explosions with high energy and/or significant asphericity effects. Our results indicate that, except for Li and C, the surface composition of EMP RR Lyr stars is not significantly affected by mass loss, mixing or diffusion processes; hence, EMP RR Lyr stars should also be useful tracers of the chemical evolution of the early Galactic halo. The observed abundance ratios indicate that these stars were born from an ISM polluted by energetic, massive (25 - 40M*) and/or aspherical supernovae, but the NLTE corrections for Sc and certain other elements do play a role in the choice of model.