Bibcode
Ramírez, I.; Collet, R.; Lambert, D. L.; Allende-Prieto, C.; Asplund, M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 725, Issue 2, pp. L223-L227 (2010).
Advertised on:
12
2010
Citations
22
Refereed citations
13
Description
A very high resolution (R = λ/Δλ = 200, 000), high
signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ~= 340) blue-green spectrum of the very
metal-poor ([Fe/H] ~= -2.6) red giant star HD 122563 has been obtained
by us at McDonald Observatory. We measure the asymmetries and core
wavelengths of a set of unblended Fe I lines covering a wide range of
line strength. Line bisectors exhibit the characteristic C-shape
signature of surface convection (granulation) and they span from about
100 m s-1 in the strongest Fe I features to 800 m
s-1 in the weakest ones. Core wavelength shifts range from
about -100 to -900 m s-1, depending on line strength. In
general, larger blueshifts are observed in weaker lines, but there is
increasing scatter with increasing residual flux. Assuming local
thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), we synthesize the same set of spectral
lines using a state-of-the-art three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic
simulation for a stellar atmosphere of fundamental parameters similar to
those of HD 122563. We find good agreement between model predictions and
observations. This allows us to infer an absolute zero point for the
line shifts and radial velocity. Moreover, it indicates that the
structure and dynamics of the simulation are realistic, thus providing
support to previous claims of large 3D-LTE corrections to elemental
abundances and fundamental parameters of very metal-poor red giant stars
obtained with standard 1D-LTE spectroscopic analyses, as suggested by
the hydrodynamic model used here.
Related projects
Chemical Abundances in Stars
Stellar spectroscopy allows us to determine the properties and chemical compositions of stars. From this information for stars of different ages in the Milky Way, it is possible to reconstruct the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, as well as the origin of the elements heavier than boron, created mainly in stellar interiors. It is also possible to
Carlos
Allende Prieto