arXiv subjects

A. M. Amarsi

Publications and source records attributed to A. M. Amarsi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Solar chemical composition

The Sun is one of the fundamental benchmarks in astronomy, and there is ever growing interest in precise and accurate determinations of its chemical composition. We present the current state-of-the-art in spectroscopic determinations of the solar elemental abundances, that now routinely employ three-dimensional (3D) radiative-hydrodynamic simulations of the solar photosphere and post-processing in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE). We critically review the recent literature and present recommended present-day and protosolar abundances of the 83 long-lived elements, and discuss their implications vis-à-vis primitive meteorites, helioseismology, neutrino fluxes, and the Solar Modelling Problem.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

3D NLTE Sodium abundances in late-type stars. Abundance corrections and synthetic spectra

Neutral sodium is an important tracer of the Galactic chemical evolution, a powerful diagnostic of different stellar populations, and the subject of detailed studies of exoplanet atmospheres via transmission spectroscopy. This work aims to study and quantify the errors in stellar analyses of Na I lines caused by the use of one-dimensional (1D) hydrostatic model atmospheres and the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). We studied the line formation of nine Na I lines in FGK dwarfs and giants via, for the first time, 3D non-LTE (NLTE) radiative transfer post-processing with the code Balder on 3D radiation hydrodynamic stellar atmospheres from the Stagger grid spanning Teff= 4000 to 6500 K, log g = 1.5 to 5.0, and [Fe/H]=-4 to +0.5. We find that the 3D NLTE abundance corrections relative to 1D LTE tend to be negative, and more positive than the corresponding 1D NLTE corrections. This reflects more efficient overionisation in the steeper temperature gradient of the 3D models. The corrections are typically less severe than -0.1 dex for weak lines, but become much larger for saturated lines in low-gravity giants (log g < 2.0), even reaching -0.7 dex. However, for the D resonance lines, the 3D NLTE corrections relative to 1D LTE become slightly positive at the lowest metallicities in our grid, typically around +0.05 dex at [Fe/H]=-4. We make our 3D NLTE grid, together with interpolation routines based on radial basis functions and fully connected feedforward neural networks, publicly available. This will enable more accurate determination of sodium abundances in present and forthcoming stellar spectroscopic surveys, particularly for metal-poor stars, as well as a better characterisation of the Na I D lines in exoplanet atmospheres.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Accurate transition and hyperfine data in Ag I from Multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock and Relativistic Coupled-Cluster methods

Silver is a key tracer of the weak r-process in late-type stars. However, when the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) needs to be relaxed, accurate abundance determinations become even more sensitive to complete sets of reliable transition data. The aim of this work is to provide accurate and extensive results of excitation energies, radiative transition and hyperfine data for Ag I. The Multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) and relativistic coupled-cluster (RCC) methods were used in the present work. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation (QQE) approach is applied to the MCDHF transition rates to estimate the uncertainty according to the National Institute of Science and Technology Atomic Spectroscopic Data (NIST ASD) terminology. Excitation energies, transition data and hyperfine structure constants were calculated for $18$ states up to $4d^{10}8s$. $57$ electric dipole (E1) transition rates and weighted oscillator strengths are computed and estimated to be in the following NIST ASD uncertainty classes; $4$ in AA, $12$ in A+, $5$ in A, $13$ in B+, $6$ in B, $4$ in C+ with AA $\leq 1\%$, A+ $\leq 2\%$, A $\leq 3\%$, B+ $\leq 7\%$, B $\leq 10\%$, C+ $\leq 18\%$. The remaining transitions, mainly weak transitions involving the $4d^95s^2$ states, are estimated to be in the E class $>50\%$. The computed lifetimes from both the MCDHF and RCC methods are in good mutual agreement and mostly fall within the error bars of available experimental values from laser induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements. The $4d^95s^2~^2D_{5/2}$ metastable state, important for establishing the ionization balance, decay through an E2 transition to the ground state. The calculated lifetime is $163\,\mathrm{ms}$. The computed hyperfine interaction constants from the MCDHF and RCC methods are in good agreement and compare well with the scattered experimental constants.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2026

Theoretical investigation of transition data of astrophysical importance in neutral sulphur

Accurate and comprehensive atomic data are essential for the modelling of stellar spectra. Uncertainties in the oscillator strengths of specific lines used for abundance analyses directly translate into uncertainties in the derived elemental abundances; incomplete or biased atomic data sets can impart significant errors in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) modelling. Theoretical calculations of atomic data are therefore crucial to supplement the limited experimental results. In this work, we present extensive atomic data, including oscillator strengths, transition rates, and lifetimes for 1730 electric-dipole (E1) transitions among 107 levels in neutral sulphur (S I) using the multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) and relativistic-configuration-interaction (RCI) methods. These levels belong to the configurations $\mathrm{3p^3np (n=3-7)}$, $\mathrm{3p^3nf (n=4,5)}$, $\mathrm{3s3p^5}$, $\mathrm{3p^3ns (n=4-7)}$, and $\mathrm{3p^3nd (n=3-6)}$. The accuracy of the computed transition rates is assessed by combining the comparison of the differences in transition rates between the Babushkin and Coulomb gauges with a cancellation-factor (CF) analysis. Approximately 16% of the ab initio results achieved an accuracy classification of A-B, corresponding to uncertainties within 10%, as defined by the Atomic Spectra Database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST ASD). Applying a fine-tuning technique was found to significantly improve the accuracy of the results in the Coulomb gauge, thereby improving the consistency between the Babushkin and Coulomb gauges; about 24% of the fine-tuned transition data are assigned to the accuracy classes A-B.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Supergiant GCIRS 22 in the Milky Way Nuclear Star Cluster: Revised alpha abundances

Context: The chemical abundances of alpha-elements in Galactic Centre (GC) supergiants provide key insights into the chemical enrichment and star formation history of the Milky Way's Nuclear Star Cluster. Previous studies have reported enhanced alpha-element abundances, raising questions about the chemical evolution of this unique region. Aims: We aim to reassess the alpha-element abundances in the GC supergiant GCIRS 22 using updated spectral modelling and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) corrections to resolve discrepancies from earlier abundance analyses. Methods: High-resolution near-infrared spectra of GCIRS 22 were analysed using contemporary line lists and precise stellar parameters derived from scandium line diagnostics. We applied comprehensive NLTE corrections to accurately determine the abundances of silicon and calcium. Results: Our analysis reveals solar-scale alpha abundances ([Ca/Fe] = 0.06 $\pm$ 0.07; [Si/Fe] = $-$0.08 $\pm$ 0.20) for GCIRS 22, significantly lower than previous LTE-based findings. NLTE corrections reduce the calcium abundance by approximately 0.3,dex compared to LTE estimates, aligning our results with recent studies and highlighting the importance of accurate NLTE modelling. Conclusions: The solar-scale alpha-element abundances observed in GCIRS 22 suggest that recent star formation in the region has not been dominated by Type II supernovae, such as those expected from a recent starburst. Our findings support a scenario of episodic star formation, characterized by intermittent bursts separated by extended quiescent phases, or potentially driven by gas inflows from the inner disk, funnelled by the Galactic bar. Future comprehensive NLTE studies of additional GC stars will be essential for refining our understanding of the region's chemical evolution and star formation history.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

The solar sulphur abundance in view of large-scale atomic structure calculations and 3D non-LTE models

The solar chemical composition is a fundamental yardstick in astrophysics and the topic of heated debate in recent literature. We re-evaluate the abundance of sulphur in the photosphere by studying seven S I lines in the solar disc-centre intensity spectrum. Our analysis considers independent sets of experimental and theoretical oscillator strengths together with, for the first time, three-dimensional non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (3D non-LTE) S I spectrum synthesis. Our best estimate is $A(\mathrm{S})=7.06\pm0.04$, which is $0.06$ dex to $0.10$ dex lower than that in commonly-used compilations of the solar chemical composition. Our lower solar sulphur abundance deviates from that in CI chondrites, and thereby supports the case for a systematic difference between the composition of the solar photosphere and of CI chondrites that is correlated with $50\%$ condensation temperature. We suggest that precise laboratory measurements of S I oscillator strengths and abundance analyses using 3D magnetohydrodynamic models of the solar photosphere be conducted to further substantiate our conclusions.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The peculiar composition of the Sun is not related to giant planets

Highly-differential spectroscopic studies have revealed that the Sun is deficient in refractory elements relative to solar twins. To investigate the role of giant planets on this signature, we present a high precision abundance analysis of HARPS spectra for 50 F- and G-type stars spanning -0.4<[Fe/H]<+0.5. There are 29 stars in the sample which host planets of masses > 0.01 MJup. We derive abundances for 19 elements, and apply corrections to 14 of them for systematic errors associated with one dimensional (1D) model atmospheres, or the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), or both. We find that, among the solar twins in our sample, the Sun is Li poor in comparison to other stars at similar age, in agreement to previous studies. The sample shows a variety of trends in elemental abundances as a function of condensation temperature. We find a strong correlation in these trends with [Fe/H], with a marginally-significant difference in the gradients for stars with and without giants planets detected, that increases after applying 3D and non-LTE corrections. Our overall results suggests that the peculiar composition of the Sun is primarily related to Galactic chemical evolution rather than the presence of giant planets.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Revisiting inelastic Cu+H collisions and the non-LTE Galactic evolution of copper

The Galactic evolution of copper remains poorly understood, partly due to the strong departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) affecting Cu I lines. A key source of uncertainty in non-LTE modelling is the treatment of inelastic Cu+H collisions. We present new rate coefficients based on a combined asymptotic LCAO and free electron model approach, which show significant differences from previous calculations. Applying these updated rates to non-LTE stellar modelling, we find reduced line-to-line scatter and improved consistency between metal-poor dwarfs and giants. Our non-LTE analysis reveals a strong upturn in the [Cu/Fe] trend towards lower [Fe/H] < -1.7. We show that this may reflect the interplay between external enrichment of Cu-rich material of the Milky Way halo at low metallicities, and metallicity-dependent Cu yields from rapidly rotating massive stars. This highlights the unique diagnostic potential of accurate Cu abundances for understanding both stellar and Galactic evolution.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The GALAH Survey: Data Release 4

The stars of the Milky Way carry the chemical history of our Galaxy in their atmospheres as they journey through its vast expanse. Like barcodes, we can extract the chemical fingerprints of stars from high-resolution spectroscopy. The fourth data release (DR4) of the Galactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) Survey, based on a decade of observations, provides the chemical abundances of up to 32 elements for 917 588 stars that also have exquisite astrometric data from the $Gaia$ satellite. For the first time, these elements include life-essential nitrogen to complement carbon, and oxygen as well as more measurements of rare-earth elements critical to modern-life electronics, offering unparalleled insights into the chemical composition of the Milky Way. For this release, we use neural networks to simultaneously fit stellar parameters and abundances across the whole wavelength range, leveraging synthetic grids computed with Spectroscopy Made Easy. These grids account for atomic line formation in non-local thermodynamic equilibrium for 14 elements. In a two-iteration process, we first fit stellar labels to all 1 085 520 spectra, then co-add repeated observations and refine these labels using astrometric data from $Gaia$ and 2MASS photometry, improving the accuracy and precision of stellar parameters and abundances. Our validation thoroughly assesses the reliability of spectroscopic measurements and highlights key caveats. GALAH DR4 represents yet another milestone in Galactic archaeology, combining detailed chemical compositions from multiple nucleosynthetic channels with kinematic information and age estimates. The resulting dataset, covering nearly a million stars, opens new avenues for understanding not only the chemical and dynamical history of the Milky Way, but also the broader questions of the origin of elements and the evolution of planets, stars, and galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Constraints on the properties of macroscopic transport in the Sun from combined lithium and beryllium depletion

Context. The Sun is a privileged laboratory of stellar evolution, thanks to the quality and complementary nature of available constraints. Using these observations, we are able to draw a detailed picture of its internal structure and dynamics which form the basis of the successes of solar modelling. Amongst such constraints, the depletion of lithium and beryllium are key tracers of the required efficiency and extent of macroscopic mixing just below the solar convective envelope. Thanks to revised determinations of these abundances, we may use them in conjunction with other existing spectroscopic and helioseismic constraints to study in detail the properties of macroscopic transport. Aims. We aim at constraining the efficiency of macroscopic transport at the base of the convective envelope and determining the compatibility of the observations with a suggested candidate linked with the transport of angular momentum in the solar radiative interior. Methods. We use recent spectroscopic observations of lithium and beryllium abundance and include them in solar evolutionary model calibrations. We test the agreement of such models in terms of position of the convective envelope, helium mass fraction in convective zone, sound speed profile inversions and neutrino fluxes. Results. We constrain the required efficiency and extent of the macroscopic mixing at the base of the solar convective envelope, finding that a power law of density with an index n between 3 and 6 would reproduce the data, with efficiencies at the base of the envelope of about 6000 cm2 /s, depending on the value of n. We also confirm that macroscopic mixing worsens the agreement with neutrino fluxes and that the current implementations of the magnetic Tayler instability are unable to explain the observations.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Chemical Abundances in the Nuclear Star Cluster of the Milky Way: alpha-Element Trends and Their Similarities with the Inner Bulge

A chemical characterization of the Galactic Center is essential for understanding its formation and structural evolution. Trends of alpha-elements, such as Mg, Si, and Ca, serve as powerful diagnostic tools, offering insights into star-formation rates and gas-infall history. However, high extinction has previously hindered such studies. In this study, we present a detailed chemical abundance analysis of M giants in the Milky Way's Nuclear Star Cluster (NSC), focusing on alpha-element trends with metallicity. High-resolution, near-infrared spectra were obtained using the IGRINS spectrograph on the Gemini South telescope for nine M giants. Careful selection of spectral lines, based on a solar-neighborhood control sample of 50 M giants, was implemented to minimize systematic uncertainties. Our findings show enhanced alpha-element abundances in the predominantly metal-rich NSC stars, consistent with trends in the inner bulge. The NSC stars follow the high-[alpha/Fe] envelope seen in the solar vicinity's metal-rich population, indicating a high star-formation rate. The alpha-element trends decrease with increasing metallicity, also at the highest metallicities. Our results suggest the NSC population likely shares a similar evolutionary history with the inner bulge, challenging the idea of a recent dominant star formation burst. This connection between the NSC and the inner-disk sequence suggests that the chemical properties of extragalactic NSCs of Milky Way type galaxies could serve as a proxy for understanding the host galaxies' evolutionary processes.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

The age of the Methuselah star in light of stellar evolution models with tailored abundances

Context. HD140283, or the Methuselah star, is a well-known reference object in stellar evolution. Its peculiar chemical composition, proximity and absence of reddening makes it an interesting case-study of Pop II stars. Thanks to recent observational efforts, we now have precise interferometric and spectroscopic constraints, as well as revised astrometric parallaxes from the Gaia mission. Aims. We aim at determining the age of HD140283 with these lastest constraints, as well as quantifying the impact of systematics from physical inaccuracies in the stellar evolution models. Methods. Using recent spectroscopic abundances from the literature, including 3D non-LTE values for C, O, and Fe, we compute opacity tables specific to HD140283. We then use them in grids of stellar evolution models coupled to a Markov Chain Monte Carlo tool to determine the age of HD140283. Results. With our tailored models we find an age of 12.3Gy. Using a solar-scaled mixture instead results in an age value of 14Gy, in tension with the age of the universe ($13.77\pm0.06$Gy). We also find that reducing the mixing length parameter from its solar calibrated value will lead to an even lower age, in agreement with other recent studies. However, we find no direct evidence to favour a lower mixing length parameter value from our modelling. Conclusions. Taking into account the specific elemental abundances is crucial for the modelling of HD140283, as it leads to significant differences in the inferred age. However, this effect is degenerate with a lowering of the mixing length parameter. In this respect, asteroseismic constraints might play a key role in accurately deriving the mass of HD140283, therefore strongly constraining its age.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

The solar beryllium abundance revisited with 3D non-LTE models

The present-day abundance of beryllium in the solar atmosphere provides clues about mixing mechanisms within stellar interiors. However, abundance determinations based on the Be II 313.107 nm line are prone to systematic errors due to imperfect model spectra. These errors arise from missing continuous opacity in the UV, a significant unidentified blend at 313.102 nm, departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), and microturbulence and macroturbulence fudge parameters associated with one-dimensional (1D) hydrostatic model atmospheres. Although these factors have been discussed in the literature, no study has yet accounted for all of them simultaneously. To address this, we present 3D non-LTE calculations for neutral and ionised beryllium in the Sun. We used these models to derive the present-day solar beryllium abundance, calibrating the missing opacity on high resolution solar irradiance data and the unidentified blend on the centre-to-limb variation. We find a surface abundance of 1.21 $\pm$ 0.05 dex, which is significantly lower than the value of 1.38 dex that has been commonly adopted since 2004. Taking the initial abundance via CI chondrites, our result implies that beryllium has been depleted from the surface by an extra 0.11 $\pm$ 0.06 dex, or 22 $\pm$ 11%, on top of any effects of atomic diffusion. This is in tension with standard solar models, which predict negligible depletion, as well as with contemporary solar models that have extra mixing calibrated on the abundances of helium and lithium, which predict excessive depletion. These discrepancies highlight the need for further improvements to the physics in solar and stellar models.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A distinct halo population revealed from 3D non-LTE magnesium abundances

Magnesium is one of the important elements in stellar physics as an electron donor and in Galactic Archaeology as a discriminator of different stellar populations. However, previous studies of Mg I and Mg II lines in metal-poor benchmark stars have flagged problems with magnesium abundances inferred from one-dimensional (1D), hydrostatic models of stellar atmospheres, both with or without the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) approximation. We here present 3D non-LTE calculations for magnesium in FG-type dwarfs, and provide corrections for 1D LTE abundances. The 3D non-LTE corrections reduce the ionisation imbalances in the benchmark metal-poor stars HD84937 and HD140283 from $-0.16$ dex and $-0.27$ dex in 1D LTE, to just $-0.02$ dex and $-0.09$ dex respectively. We then applied our abundance corrections to 1D LTE literature results for stars in the thin disc, thick disc, $α$-rich halo, and $α$-poor halo. We find that the 3D non-LTE results show a richer substructure in [Mg/Fe]-[Fe/H] in the $α$-poor halo, revealing two subpopulations at the metal-rich end. These two subpopulations are also separated in kinematics, supporting the astrophysical origin of the separation. While the more magnesium-poor subpopulation is likely to be debris from a massive accreted galaxy, Gaia-Enceladus, the other subpopulation may be related to a previous identified group of stars, called Eos. The presence of additional separation in [Mg/Fe] suggests that previous Mg abundance measurements may have been limited in the precision by the 1D and LTE approximations, highlighting the importance of 3D non-LTE modelling.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A conclusive non-detection of magnetic field in the Am star o Peg with high-precision near-infrared spectroscopy

The A-type metallic-line (Am) stars are typically considered to be non-magnetic or possessing very weak sub-G magnetic fields. This view has been repeatedly challenged in the literature, most commonly for the bright hot Am star o Peg. Several studies claimed to detect 1-2 kG field of unknown topology in this object, possibly indicating a new process of magnetic field generation in intermediate-mass stars. In this study, we revisit the evidence of a strong magnetic field in o Peg using new high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations and advanced spectral fitting techniques. The mean magnetic field strength in o Peg is estimated from the high-precision CRIRES+ measurement of near-infrared sulphur lines. This observation is modelled with a polarised radiative transfer code, including treatment of the departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium. In addition, the least-squares deconvolution multi-line technique is employed to derive longitudinal field measurements from archival optical spectropolarimetric observations of this star. Our analysis of the near-infrared S I lines reveals no evidence of Zeeman broadening, ruling out magnetic field with a strength exceeding 260 G. This null result is compatible with the relative intensification of Fe II lines in the optical spectrum taking into account blending and uncertain atomic parameters of the relevant diagnostic transitions. Longitudinal field measurements at three different nights also yield null results with a precision of 2 G. This study refutes the claims of kG-strength dipolar or tangled magnetic field in o Peg. This star is effectively non-magnetic, with the surface magnetic field characteristics no different from those of other Am stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

In-depth analysis of solar models with high-metallicity abundances and updated opacity tables

Due to the high quality constraints available for the Sun, we can carry out combined analyses using neutrino, spectroscopic and helioseismic observations. Such studies lay the ground for future improvements of key physical components of solar and stellar models, such as the equation of state, radiative opacities or prescriptions for macroscopic transport processes of chemicals which are then used to study other stars in the Universe. We study the existing degeneracies in solar models using the recent high-metallicity spectroscopic abundances by comparing them to helioseismic and neutrino data and discuss how their properties are impacted by changes in various physical ingredients. We carry out a detailed study of solar models computed with a high-metallicity composition from the literature based on averaged-3D models that was claimed to solve the solar problem. The properties of the solar models are significantly affected by using the recent OPLIB opacities and the inclusion of macroscopic transport. The properties of the standard solar models computed using the OPAL opacities are similar to those using the OP opacities. We show that a modifying the temperature gradient just below the base of the convective zone is required to erase the discrepancies in solar models, particularly in the presence of macroscopic mixing. This can be simulated by a local increase of opacity of a few percent. We conclude that the existing degeneracies and issues in solar modelling are not erased by an increase in the solar metallicity in contradiction to was suggested in recent papers. Therefore, standard solar models cannot be used as an argument for a high metallicity composition. While further work is required to improve solar models, we note that direct helioseismic inversions indicate a low metallicity in the convective envelope, in agreement with spectroscopic analyses based on full 3D models.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Titanium abundances in late-type stars, II. Grid of departure coefficients and application to a sample of $70\,000$ stars

Rapidly growing datasets from stellar spectroscopic surveys are providing unprecedented opportunities to analyse the chemical evolution history of our Galaxy. However, spectral analysis requires accurate modelling of synthetic stellar spectra for late-type stars, for which the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) has been shown to be insufficient in many cases. Errors associated with LTE can be particularly large for Ti I, which is susceptible to over-ionisation, particularly in metal-poor stars. The aims of this work are to study and quantify the 1D non-LTE effects on titanium abundances across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for a large sample of stars. A large grid of departure coefficients, $β_ν$, were computed on standard MARCS model atmospheres. The grid extends from 3000K to 8000K in T$_{\mathrm{eff}}$, -0.5 to +5.5 dex in log(g), and -5.0 to +1.0 in [Fe/H], with non-LTE effects in this grid reaching up to 0.4 dex. This was used to compute abundance corrections that were subsequently applied to the LTE abundances of over 70,000 stars selected from the GALAH survey and additional metal-poor dwarfs. The non-LTE effects grow towards lower [Fe/H], lower log(g), and higher T$_{\mathrm{eff}}$, with a minimum and maximum $Δ$A(Ti I) of 0.02 and 0.19 in the GALAH sample. For metal-poor giants, the non-LTE modelling reduces the average ionisation imbalance from -0.11 dex to -0.01 dex at [Fe/H] = -1.7, and the enhancement in titanium abundances from Ti I lines results in a [Ti/Fe] versus [Fe/H] trend that more closely resembles the behaviour of Ti II at low metallicities. Non-LTE effects on titanium abundances are significant. Neglecting them may alter our understanding of Galactic chemical evolution. We have made our grid of departure coefficients publicly available, with the caveat that the Ti abundances of metal-poor dwarfs need further study in 3D non-LTE.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Abundances of iron-peak elements in accreted and in situ born Galactic halo stars

Previous work on the abundances of C, O, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn in low-alpha (accreted) and high-alpha (in situ born) halo stars is extended to include the abundances of Sc, V, and Co, enabling us to study the nucleosynthesis of all iron-peak elements along with the lighter elements. The Sc, V, and Co abundances were determined from a 1D MARCS model-atmosphere analysis of equivalent widths of atomic lines in high signal-to-noise, high resolution spectra assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). In addition, new 3D and/or non-LTE calculations were used to correct the 1D LTE abundances for several elements including consistent 3D non-LTE calculations for Mg. The two populations of accreted and in situ born stars are well separated in diagrams showing [Sc/Fe], [V/Fe], and [Co/Fe] as a function of [Fe/H]. The [X/Mg] versus [Mg/H] trends for high-alpha and low-alpha stars were used to determine the yields of core-collapse and Type Ia supernovae. The largest Type Ia contribution occurs for Cr, Mn, and Fe, whereas Cu is a pure core-collapse element. Sc, Ti, V, Co, Ni, and Zn represent intermediate cases. A comparison with yields calculated for supernova models shows poor agreement for the core-collapse yields. The Ia yields suggest that sub-Chandrasekhar-mass Type Ia supernovae provide a dominant contribution to the chemical evolution of the host galaxies of the low-alpha stars. A substructure in the abundances and kinematics of the low-alpha stars suggests that they arise from at least two different satellite accretion events, Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus and Thamnos.

astro-ph.GA↗