Astron. Astrophys. 322, L29-L32 (1997)

Letter to the Editor

What can we learn from the r-element distribution of CS 22892-052?

S. Goriely and M. Arnould

Institut d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique, C.P. 226, Université Libre de Bruxelles, bvd. du Triomphe, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium

Received 20 February 1997 / Accepted 1 April 1997

Abstract

The striking similarity between the solar distribution of r-element abundances in the range and the corresponding abundance pattern observed in the ultra-metal-poor star CS 22892-052 is analysed. It is found that such an observation does not necessarily imply that the whole distribution of r-nuclides, including Th, suspected to have been engulfed in CS 22892-052 at the same time as the detected elements is solar. Such a conclusion derives from the finding that an arbitrary superposition of r-process events that does not fit the whole solar r-process pattern can also account for the CS 22892-052 observations. The interpretation of this result and its implications are discussed.

Key words: nucleosynthesis nuclear reactions stars: abundances solar system: general stars: CS 22892-052

Send offprint requests to: S. Goriely

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Prediction of the r-element distribution of CS 22892-052
• 3. Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1997

Online publication: June 5, 1998

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