Gaia FGK benchmark stars: Abundances of n-capture elements of the third version

Abstract

In the current era, in which an unprecedented wealth of data are available for the study of the Milky Way, Gaia benchmark stars (GBSs) have become an established reference and calibration sample. Studies of stellar structure and evolution and of the chemical history of our Galaxy generally rely on large spectroscopic surveys and their output catalogs. In this context, deriving precise and accurate stellar parameters and chemical abundances is of paramount importance. This study provides the determination of neutron (n)-capture element abundances and extends the set of chemical abundances available for the third GBS release (GBSv3). Based on the compilation of high-resolution spectra assembled for GBSv3 and consistent with the spectral analysis adopted for the chemical abundances of GBSv3, we used the public iSpec code to derive heavy element abundances. We inferred homogeneous abundances of n-capture elements across the GBSv3 sample using an in-depth line assessment tailored to different groups identified through a clustering algorithm that accounts for the diversity in stellar parameters and metallicities. This approach addresses key challenges in the spectral analysis of these elements, including the paucity of usable lines, weak line strengths, saturation effects, and sensitivity to atomic data. The assessment yielded reliable measurements, establishing an extended and robust reference scale in good agreement with the literature. This compilation of n-capture abundances is based on the GBS sample's accurate atmospheric parameters and the analysis of a large sample of stellar spectra per star, which provides a reliable and homogeneous spectral analysis. It also supports the use of chemical abundances as precise tracers of the Milky Ways star formation history and chemical evolution and constitutes a legacy sample for the calibration of current and future spectroscopic surveys.