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S. G. Ryan

Publications and source records attributed to S. G. Ryan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2023

A Critique of the Spite Plateau, and the Astration of Primordial Lithium

We investigate the distribution of the lithium abundances, A(Li), of metal-poor dwarf and subgiant stars within the limits 5500 K < Teff < 6700 K, -6.0 < [Fe/H] < -1.5, and logg > ~3.5 (a superset of parameters first adopted by Spite and Spite), using literature data for some 200 stars. We address the problem of the several methods that yield Teff differences up to 350 K, and hence uncertainties of 0.3 dex in [Fe/H] and A(Li), by anchoring Teff to the Infrared Flux Method. We seek to understand the behaviour of A(Li) as a function of [Fe/H] -- small dispersion at highest [Fe/H], ``meltdown'' at intermediate values (i.e. large spread in Li below the Spite Plateau), and extreme variations at lowest [Fe/H]. Decreasing A(Li) is accompanied by increasing dispersion. Insofar as [Fe/H] increases as the universe ages, the behavior of A(Li) reflects chaotic star formation involving destruction of primordial Li, which settles to the classic Spite Plateau, with A(Li) ~2.3, by the time the Galactic halo reaches [Fe/H] ~ -3.0. We consider three phases: (1) first star formation in C-rich environments ([C/Fe] > 2.3), with depleted Li; (2) silicates-dominated star formation and destruction of primordial Li during pre-main-sequence evolution; and (3) materials from these two phases co-existing and coalescing to form C-rich stars with A(Li) below the Spite Plateau, leading to a toy model with the potential to explain the ``meltdown''. We comment on the results of Mucciarelli et al. on the Lower RGB, and the suggestion of Aguado et al. favouring a lower primordial lithium abundance than generally accepted.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

A three-dimensional hydrodynamical line profile analysis of iron lines and barium isotopes in HD140283

Heavy-elements, i.e. those beyond the iron peak, mostly form via two neutron capture processes: the s- and r-process. Metal-poor stars should contain fewer isotopes that form via the s-process, according to currently accepted theory. It has been shown in several investigations that theory and observation do not agree well, raising questions on the validity of either the methodology or the theory. We analyse the metal-poor star HD140283, for which we have a high quality spectrum. We test whether a 3D LTE stellar atmosphere and spectrum synthesis code permits a more reliable analysis of the iron abundance and barium isotope ratio than a 1D LTE analysis. Using 3D model atmospheres, we examine 91 iron lines of varying strength and formation depth. This provides us with the star's rotational speed. With this, we model the barium isotope ratio by exploiting the hyperfine structure of the singly ionised 4554 resonance line, and study the impact of the uncertainties in the stellar parameters. HD140283's vsini = 1.65 +/- 0.05 km/s. Barium isotopes under the 3D paradigm show a dominant r-process signature as 77 +/- 6 +/- 17% of barium isotopes form via the r-process, where errors represent the assigned random and systematic errors, respectively. We find that 3D LTE fits reproduce iron line profiles better than those in 1D, but do not provide a unique abundance (within the uncertainties). However, we demonstrate that the isotopic ratio is robust against this shortcoming. Our barium isotope result agrees well with currently accepted theory regarding the formation of the heavy-elements during the early Galaxy. The improved fit to the asymmetric iron line profiles suggests that the current state of 3D LTE modelling provides excellent simulations of fluid flows. However, the abundances they provide are not yet self-consistent. This may improve with NLTE considerations and higher resolution models.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2014

The AGB population in IC 1613 using JHK photometry

A member of the Local Group, IC 1613 is a gas rich irregular dwarf galaxy that appears to have formed stars continuously over the last 10 Gyr and is relatively independent of external influences from other galaxies. This paper aims to study the spatial distribution of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) population in IC 1613 and its metallicity. Using WFCAM on UKIRT, high quality JHK photometry of an area of 0.8 deg^2 centered on IC 1613 was obtained. The data have been used to isolate the C- and M-type components of the AGB population and using their number ratio, C/M, a global mean metallicity has been derived. The metallicity and the TRGB magnitude have been studied as a function of distance from the galactic centre and as a function of azimuthal angle. The tip of the RGB (TRGB) has been found at K_0 = 18.25 +/- 0.15 mag. The colour separation between the C- and M-type components of the AGB population has been located at (J-K) = 1.15 +/- 0.05 mag, giving a global C/M ratio of 0.52 +/- 0.04 and from this an iron abundance of [Fe/H] = -1.26 +/- 0.07 dex has been calculated. The AGB population has been detected out to a radial distance of 4.5 kpc in the de-projected plane of the galaxy. The measured TRGB is consistent with previous measurements and no significant variation is detected in the TRGB or in metallicity either with galactocentric distance or azimuthal angle.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. IV. The Two Populations With [Fe/H] < -3.0

We discuss the carbon-normal and carbon-rich populations of Galactic halo stars having [Fe/H] < -3.0, utilizing chemical abundances from high-resolution, high-S/N model-atmosphere analyses. The C-rich population represents ~28% of stars below [Fe/H] = -3.1, with the present C-rich sample comprising 16 CEMP-no stars, and two others with [Fe/H] ~ -5.5 and uncertain classification. The population is O-rich ([O/Fe] > +1.5); the light elements Na, Mg, and Al are enhanced relative to Fe in half the sample; and for Z > 20 (Ca) there is little evidence for enhancements relative to solar values. These results are best explained in terms of the admixing and processing of material from H-burning and He-burning regions as achieved by nucleosynthesis in zero-heavy-element models in the literature of "mixing and fallback" supernovae (SNe); of rotating, massive and intermediate mass stars; and of Type II SNe with relativistic jets. The available (limited) radial velocities offer little support for the C-rich stars with [Fe/H] < -3.1 being binary. More data are required before one could conclude that binarity is key to an understanding of this population. We suggest that the C-rich and C-normal populations result from two different gas cooling channels in the very early Universe, of material that formed the progenitors of the two populations. The first was cooling by fine-structure line transitions of CII and OI (to form the C-rich population); the second, while not well-defined (perhaps dust-induced cooling?), led to the C-normal group. In this scenario, the C-rich population contains the oldest stars currently observed.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. I. Discovery, Data, and Atmospheric Parameters

We report the discovery of 34 stars in the Hamburg/ESO Survey for metal-poor stars and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that have [Fe/H] < -3.0. Their median and minimum abundances are [Fe/H] = -3.1 and -4.1, respectively, while 10 stars have [Fe/H] < -3.5. High-resolution, high-S/N spectroscopic data - equivalent widths and radial velocities - are presented for these stars, together with an additional four objects previously reported or currently being investigated elsewhere. We have determined the atmospheric parameters, effective temperature (Teff) and surface gravity (logg), which are critical in the determination of the chemical abundances and the evolutionary status of these stars. Three techniques were used to derive these parameters. Spectrophotometric fits to model atmosphere fluxes were used to derive Teff, logg, and an estimate of E(B-V); Halpha, Hbeta, and Hgamma profile fitting to model atmosphere results provided the second determination of Teff and logg; and finally, we used an empirical Teff-calibrated Hdelta index, for the third, independent Teff determination. The three values of Teff are in good agreement, although the profile fitting may yield systematically cooler Teff values, by ~100K. This collective data set will be analyzed in future papers in the present series to utilize the most metal-poor stars as probes of conditions in the early Universe.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. II. Chemical Abundances of 190 Metal-Poor Stars Including 10 New Stars With [Fe/H] < -3.5

We present a homogeneous chemical abundance analysis of 16 elements in 190 metal-poor Galactic halo stars (38 program and 152 literature objects). The sample includes 171 stars with [Fe/H] < -2.5, of which 86 are extremely metal poor, [Fe/H] < -3.0. Our program stars include ten new objects with [Fe/H] < -3.5. We identify a sample of "normal" metal-poor stars and measure the trends between [X/Fe] and [Fe/H], as well as the dispersion about the mean trend for this sample. Using this mean trend, we identify objects that are chemically peculiar relative to "normal" stars at the same metallicity. These chemically unusual stars include CEMP-no objects, one star with high [Si/Fe], another with high [Ba/Sr], and one with unusually low [X/Fe] for all elements heavier than Na. The Sr and Ba abundances indicate that there may be two nucleosynthetic processes at lowest metallicity that are distinct from the main r-process. Finally, for many elements, we find a significant trend between [X/Fe] versus Teff which likely reflects non-LTE and/or 3D effects. Such trends demonstrate that care must be exercised when using abundance measurements in metal-poor stars to constrain chemical evolution and/or nucleosynthesis predictions.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. III. The Metallicity Distribution Function and CEMP Fraction

We examine the metallicity distribution function (MDF) and fraction of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars in a sample that includes 86 stars with [Fe/H] < -3.0, based on high-resolution, high-S/N spectroscopy, of which some 32 objects lie below [Fe/H] = -3.5. After accounting for the completeness function, the "corrected" MDF does not exhibit the sudden drop at [Fe/H] = -3.6 that was found in recent samples of dwarfs and giants from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Rather, the MDF decreases smoothly down to [Fe/H] = -4.1. Similar results are obtained from the "raw" MDF. We find the fraction of CEMP objects below [Fe/H] = -3.0 is 23 +/- 6% and 32 +/- 8% when adopting the Beers et al. and Aoki et al. CEMP definitions, respectively. The former value is in fair agreement with some previous measurements, which adopt the Beers et al. criterion.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

The AGB population of NGC 6822: distribution and the C/M ratio from JHK photometry

NGC 6822 is an irregular dwarf galaxy and part of the Local Group. Its close proximity and apparent isolation provide a unique opportunity to study galactic evolution without any obvious strong external influences. This paper aims to study the spatial distribution of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) population and metallicity in NGC 6822. Using deep, high quality JHK photometry, taken with WFCAM on UKIRT, carbon- and oxygen-rich AGB stars have been isolated. The ratio between their number, the C/M ratio, has then been used to derive the [Fe/H] abundance across the galaxy. The tip of the red giant branch is located at K0 = 17.41 \pm 0.11 mag and the colour separation between carbon- and oxygen-rich AGB stars is at (J - K)0 = 1.20 \pm 0.03 mag (i.e. (J - K)2MAS S » 1.28 mag). A C/M ratio of 0.62 \pm 0.03 has been derived in the inner 4 kpc of the galaxy, which translates into an iron abundance of [Fe/H] = -1.29\pm0.07 dex. Variations of these parameters were investigated as a function of distance from the galaxy centre and azimuthal angle. The AGB population of NGC 6822 has been detected out to a radius of 4 kpc giving a diameter of 56 arcmin. It is metal-poor, but there is no obvious gradient in metallicity with either radial distance from the centre or azimuthal angle. The detected spread in the TRGB magnitude is consistent with that of a galaxy surrounded by a halo of old stars. The C/M ratio has the potential to be a very useful tool for the determination of metallicity in resolved galaxies but a better calibration of the C/M vs. [Fe/H] relation and a better understanding of the sensitivities of the C/M ratio to stellar selection criteria is first required.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

The barium isotopic fractions in five metal-poor stars

We provide measurements of the Ba isotopic fractions for five metal-poor stars derived with an LTE analysis using 1D model stellar atmospheres. We use high resolution (R\equivλ/Δλ=90000-95000), very high signal-to-noise (S/N>500) spectra to determine the fraction of odd Ba isotopes (fodd) by measuring subtle asymmetries in the profile of the Ba ii line at 4554 Å. We also use two different macroturbulent broadening techniques, Gaussian and radial-tangential, to model the Fe lines of each star, and propagate each technique to model macroturbulent broadening in the Ba 4554 Å line. We conduct a 1D non-LTE (NLTE) treatment of the Fe lines in the red giant HD122563 and the subgiant HD140283 in an attempt to improve the fitting. We determine [Ba/Eu] ratios for the two giants in our study, HD122563 and HD88609, which can also be used to determine the relative contribution of the s- and r-processes to heavy-element nucleosynthesis, for comparison with fodd. We find fodd for HD122563, HD88609 and HD84937, BD+26\circ3578 and BD-04\circ3208 to be -0.12\pm0.07, -0.02\pm0.09, and -0.05\pm0.11, 0.08\pm0.08 and 0.18\pm0.08 respectively. This means that all stars examined here show isotopic fractions more compatible with an s-process dominated composition. The [Ba/Eu] ratios in HD122563 and HD88609 are found to be -0.20\pm0.15 and -0.47\pm0.15 respectively, which indicate instead an r-process signature. We report a better statistical fit to the majority of Fe profiles in each star when employing a radial-tangential broadening technique during our 1D LTE investigation. We have shown that, from a statistical point of view, one must consider using a radial-tangential broadening technique rather than a Gaussian one to model Fe line macroturbulences when working in 1D. No improvement to Fe line fitting is seen when employing a NLTE treatment.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2010

The barium isotopic mixture for the metal-poor subgiant star HD140283

Current theory regarding heavy element nucleosynthesis in metal-poor environments states that the r-process would be dominant. The star HD140283 has been the subject of debate after it appeared in some studies to be dominated by the s-process. We provide an independent measure of the Ba isotope mixture in HD140283 using an extremely high quality spectrum and an extensive chi^2 analysis. We exploit hyperfine splitting of the BaII 4554 Å and 4934 Å resonance lines in an effort to constrain the isotope ratio in 1D LTE. Using the code ATLAS in conjunction with KURUCZ06 model atmospheres we analyse 93 Fe lines to determine the star's macroturbulence. With this information we construct a grid of Ba synthetic spectra and, using a χ^2 code, fit these to our observed data to determine the isotopic ratio, fodd, which represents the ratio of odd to even isotopes. We also analyse the Eu lines. We set a new upper limit of the rotation of HD140283 at vsin{i}\leq3.9\kms, a new upper limit on [Eu/H] < -2.80 and abundances [Fe/H] = -2.59\pm0.09, [Ba/H] = -3.46\pm0.11. This leads to a new lower limit on [Ba/Eu] > -0.66. We find that, in the framework of a 1D LTE analysis, the isotopic ratios of Ba in HD140283 indicate fodd=0.02\pm0.06, a purely s-process signature. This implies that observations and analysis do not validate currently accepted theory. We speculate that a 1D code, due to simplifying assumptions, is not adequate when dealing with observations with high levels of resolution and S/N because of the turbulent motions associated with a 3D stellar atmosphere. New approaches to analysing isotopic ratios, in particular 3D hydrodynamics, need to be considered when dealing with the levels of detail required to properly determine them. However published 3D results exacerbate the disagreement between theory and observation.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2010

Lithium abundances of halo dwarfs based on excitation temperatures. II. NLTE

One of the most important factors in determining the stellar lithium abundance is the effective temperature. In a previous study by the authors, new effective temperatures Teff for sixteen metal-poor halo dwarfs were derived using a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) description of the formation of Fe lines. This new Teff scale reinforced the discrepancy. For six of the stars from our previous study we calculate revised temperatures using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) approach. These are then used to derive a new mean primordial lithium abundance in an attempt to solve the lithium discrepancy. Using the code MULTI we calculate NLTE corrections to the LTE abundances for the Fe I lines measured in the six stars, and determine new Teff's. We keep other physical parameters, i.e. log g, [Fe/H] and xi, constant at the values calculated in Paper I. With the revised Teff scale we derive new Li abundances. We compare the NLTE values of Teff with the photometric temperatures of Ryan et al. (1999, ApJ, 523, 654), the infrared flux method (IRFM) temperatures of Melendez & Ramirez (2004, ApJ, 615, 33), and the Balmer line wing temperatures of Asplund et al. (2006, ApJ, 644, 229). We find that our temperatures are hotter than both the Ryan et al. and Asplund et al. temperatures by typically ~ 110 K - 160 K, but are still cooler than the temperatures of Melendez & Ramirez by typically ~ 190 K. The temperatures imply a primordial Li abundance of 2.19 dex or 2.21 dex, depending on the magnitude of collisions with hydrogen in the calculations, still well below the value of 2.72 dex inferred from WMAP + BBN. We discuss the effects of collisions on trends of 7Li abundances with [Fe/H] and Teff, as well as the NLTE effects on the determination of log g through ionization equilibrium, which imply a collisional scaling factor SH > 1 for collisions between Fe and H atoms.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2009

6Li/7Li estimates for metal-poor stars

The presence of the lithium-6 isotope in some metal-poor stars is a matter of surprise because of the high values observed. Non-standard models of Big Bang nucleosynthesis and pre-Galactic cosmic ray fusion and spallation have been proposed to explain these values. However, the observations of this light isotope are challenging which may make some detections disputable. The goal was to determine 6Li/7Li for a sample of metal-poor stars; three of them have been previously studied and the remaining two are new for this type of study. The purpose was to increase, if possible, the number of lithium-6 detections and to confirm previously published results. Spectra of the resonance doublet line of neutral lithium Li I 670.78nm were taken with the High Dispersion Spectrograph at the Subaru 8.2m-telescope for a sample of five metal-poor stars (-3.12 < [Fe/H] < -2.19). The contribution of lithium-6 to the total observed line profile was estimated from the 1D-LTE analysis of the line asymmetry. Observed asymmetries could be reproduced assuming isotopic abundance ratios 6Li/7Li of the order of: 0.004 for BD+26 3578, ~ 0.010 for BD+02 3375 and G 64-37, 0.025 for BD+20 3603 and 0.047 for BD-04 3208. We found that these results were very sensitive to several of the assumptions made in the analysis, in particular, the treatment of the residual structure in the analysed spectra. Our final estimates for the errors are respectively delta_6Li/7Li=+- 0.028, 0.029, 0.039, 0.025 and 0.039. The 6Li/7Li ratios for the sample are comparable to or even lower than these error values, so that detections of lithium-6 can not safely be claimed despite of the high resolving power (R ~ 95 000) and S/N (400-600).

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2008

Lithium abundances of halo dwarfs based on excitation temperature. I. LTE

The discovery of the Spite plateau in the abundances of 7Li for metal-poor stars led to the determination of an observationally deduced primordial lithium abundance. However, after the success of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) in determining the baryon density, OmegaBh^2, there was a discrepancy between observationally determined and theoretically determined abundances in the case of 7Li. One of the most important uncertain factors in the calculation of the stellar 7Li abundance is the effective temperature, Teff. We use sixteen metal-poor halo dwarfs to calculate new Teff values using the excitation energy method. With this temperature scale we then calculate new Li abundances for this group of stars in an attempt to resolve the 7Li discrepancy. Using high signal-to-noise (S/N ~ 100) spectra of 16 metal-poor halo dwarfs, obtained with the UCLES spectrograph on the AAT, measurements of equivalent widths from a set of unblended FeI lines are made. These equivalent widths are then used to calculate new Teff values with the use of the single line radiative transfer program WIDTH6, where we have constrained the gravity using either theoretical isochrones or the Hipparcos parallax, rather than the ionization balance. The lithium abundances of the stars are calculated with these temperatures. The physical parameters are derived for the 16 programme stars, and two standards. These include Teff, log g, [Fe/H], microturbulence and 7Li abundances. A comparison between the temperature scale of this work and those adopted by others has been undertaken. We find good consistency with the temperatures derived from the Halpha line by Asplund et al. (2006), but not with the hotter scale of Melendez & Ramirez (2004).

astro-ph↗
arXiv2007

Searching for the Precursors of Life in External Galaxies

Are the organic molecules crucial for life on Earth abundant in early-epoch galaxies? To address this, we searched for organic molecules in extragalactic sources via their absorption features, known as diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). There is strong evidence that DIBs are associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and carbon chains. Galaxies with a preponderance of DIBs may be the most likely places in which to expect life. We use the method of quasar absorption lines to probe intervening early-epoch galaxies for the DIBs. We present the equivalent width measurements of DIBs in one neutral hydrogen (HI) abundant galaxy and limits for five DIB bands in six other HI-rich galaxies (damped Lyman-alpha systems--DLAs). Our results reveal that HI-rich galaxies are dust poor and have significantly lower reddening than known DIB-rich Milky Way environments. We find that DIBs in HI-rich galaxies do not show the same correlation with hydrogen abundance as observed in the Milky Way; the extragalactic DIBs are underabundant by as much as 10 times. The lower limit gas-to-dust ratios of four of the HI-rich early epoch galaxies are much higher than the gas-to-dust ratios found in the Milky Way. Our results suggest that the organic molecules responsible for the DIBs are underabundant in HI-rich early epoch galaxies relative to the Milky Way.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2006

Experimental Mg I oscillator strengths and radiative lifetimes for astrophysical applications on metal-poor stars - New data for the Mg I b triplet

The stellar abundance ratio of Mg/Fe is an important tool in diagnostics of galaxy evolution. In order to make reliable measurements of the Mg abundance of stars, it is necessary to have accurate values for the oscillator strength (f-value) of each of the observable transitions. In metal-poor stars the Mg I 3p-4s triplet around 5175 AA (Fraunhofer's so-called b lines) are the most prominent magnesium lines. The lines also appear as strong features in the solar spectrum. We present new and improved experimental oscillator strengths for the optical Mg I 3p-4s triplet, along with experimental radiative lifetimes for six terms in Mg I. With these data we discuss the implications on previous and future abundance analyses of metal-poor stars. The oscillator strengths have been determined by combining radiative lifetimes with branching fractions, where the radiative lifetimes are measured using the laser induced fluorescence technique and the branching fractions are determined using intensity calibrated Fourier Transform (FT) spectra. The FT spectra are also used for determining new accurate laboratory wavelengths for the 3p-4s transitions. The f-values of the Mg I 3p-4s lines have been determined with an absolute uncertainty of 9 %, giving an uncertainty of +-0.04 dex in the log gf values. Compared to values previously used in abundance analyses of metal-poor stars, rescaling to the new values implies an increase of typically 0.04 dex in the magnesium abundance.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2006

Neutron-capture elements in the very metal-poor star HD122563

We obtained high resolution, high S/N spectroscopy for the very metal-poor star HD122563 with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. Previous studies have shown that this object has excesses of light neutron-capture elements, while its abundances of heavy ones are very low. In our spectrum covering 3070 - 4780 A of this object, 19 neutron-capture elements have been detected, including seven for the first time in this star (Nb, Mo, Ru, Pd, Ag, Pr, and Sm). Upper limits are given for five other elements including Th. The abundance pattern shows a gradually decreasing trend, as a function of atomic number, from Sr to Yb, which is quite different from those in stars with excesses of r-process elements. This abundance pattern of neutron-capture elements provides new strong constraints on the models of nucleosynthesis responsible for the very metal-poor stars with excesses of light neutron-capture elements but without enhancement of heavy ones.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

The new record holder for the most iron-poor star: HE 1327-2326, a dwarf or subgiant with [Fe/H]=-5.4

We describe the discovery of HE 1327-2326, a dwarf or subgiant with [Fe/H]}=-5.4. The star was found in a sample of bright metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Its abundance pattern is characterized by very high C and N abundances. The detection of Sr which is overabundant by a factor of 10 as compared to iron and the Sun, suggests that neutron-capture elements had already been produced in the very early Galaxy. A puzzling Li depletion is observed in this unevolved star which contradicts the value of the primordial Li derived from WMAP and other Li studies. Possible scenarios for the origin of the abundance pattern (Pop. II or Pop. III) are presented as well as an outlook on future observations.

astro-ph↗