Heavy Element Abundances in a Metal-Poor Halo Star: A Comparison between Theory and HST Observations

Session 22 -- Stellar Spectroscopy, Atmospheres, Models, Intrinsic Variables, Theory, Part II
Display presentation, Tuesday, June 13, 1995, 9:20am - 6:30pm

[22.02] Heavy Element Abundances in a Metal-Poor Halo Star: A Comparison between Theory and HST Observations

D.L. Burris, J.J. Cowan (U. of OK), C. Sneden (U. of TX), J.W. Truran (U. of Chicago)

The neutron-capture element (Z$>$30) abundance distribution in the metal-poor halo star HD122563 is analyzed. The observed ground-based data from Gratton and Sneden (1994) is compared with the distributions produced by the slow and rapid neutron capture processes (s- and r-processes) in the solar system material from Kappeler et al (1989). This study shows that the abundances from barium to europium in this star have the same relative proportions as the solar system's r-process. These predictions will be compared with HST observations. The results of these comparisons can be used to identify the types of nuclear processes and the types of stars that preceded the formation of HD122563, early in the history of the Galaxy.

This work was supported in part by NSF AST 93-14936 and by NASA GO-5421.01-93A

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