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The Gaia -ESO Survey: Galactic evolution of lithium at high metallicity

Randich, S. ; Pasquini, L. ; Franciosini, E. ; Magrini, L. ; Jackson, R. J. ; Jeffries, R. D. ; D'Orazi, V. ; Romano, D. ; Sanna, N. and Tautvaišienė, G. , et al. (2020) In Astronomy and Astrophysics 640.
Abstract

Context. Reconstructing the Galactic evolution of lithium (Li) is the main tool used to constrain the source(s) of Li enrichment in the Galaxy. Recent results have suggested a decline in Li at supersolar metallicities, which may indicate reduced production. Aims. We exploit the unique characteristics of the Gaia-ESO Survey open star cluster sample to further investigate this issue and to better constrain the evolution of Li at high metallicity. Methods. We trace the upper envelope of Li abundance versus metallicity evolution using 18 clusters and considering members that should not have suffered any Li depletion. Results. At variance with previous claims, we do not find any evidence of a Li decrease at high metallicity. The most... (More)

Context. Reconstructing the Galactic evolution of lithium (Li) is the main tool used to constrain the source(s) of Li enrichment in the Galaxy. Recent results have suggested a decline in Li at supersolar metallicities, which may indicate reduced production. Aims. We exploit the unique characteristics of the Gaia-ESO Survey open star cluster sample to further investigate this issue and to better constrain the evolution of Li at high metallicity. Methods. We trace the upper envelope of Li abundance versus metallicity evolution using 18 clusters and considering members that should not have suffered any Li depletion. Results. At variance with previous claims, we do not find any evidence of a Li decrease at high metallicity. The most metal-rich clusters in the sample ([Fe/H] = ∼0.3) actually show the highest Li abundances, with A(Li) > 3.4. Our results clearly show that previous findings, which were based on field stars, were affected by selection effects. The metal-rich population in the solar neighbourhood is composed of relatively old and cool stars that have already undergone some Li depletion; hence, their measured Li does not represent the initial interstellar medium abundance, but a lower limit to it.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Galaxy: abundances, Galaxy: evolution, Open clusters and associations: general, Stars: abundances
in
Astronomy and Astrophysics
volume
640
article number
L1
publisher
EDP Sciences
external identifiers
  • scopus:85089264521
ISSN
0004-6361
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/202038688
project
Gaia-ESO Survey
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
79a3b146-8604-4794-9fe8-e098ab159ad0
date added to LUP
2020-08-18 10:39:41
date last changed
2024-04-17 14:27:44
@article{79a3b146-8604-4794-9fe8-e098ab159ad0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Context. Reconstructing the Galactic evolution of lithium (Li) is the main tool used to constrain the source(s) of Li enrichment in the Galaxy. Recent results have suggested a decline in Li at supersolar metallicities, which may indicate reduced production. Aims. We exploit the unique characteristics of the Gaia-ESO Survey open star cluster sample to further investigate this issue and to better constrain the evolution of Li at high metallicity. Methods. We trace the upper envelope of Li abundance versus metallicity evolution using 18 clusters and considering members that should not have suffered any Li depletion. Results. At variance with previous claims, we do not find any evidence of a Li decrease at high metallicity. The most metal-rich clusters in the sample ([Fe/H] = ∼0.3) actually show the highest Li abundances, with A(Li) &gt; 3.4. Our results clearly show that previous findings, which were based on field stars, were affected by selection effects. The metal-rich population in the solar neighbourhood is composed of relatively old and cool stars that have already undergone some Li depletion; hence, their measured Li does not represent the initial interstellar medium abundance, but a lower limit to it. </p>}},
  author       = {{Randich, S. and Pasquini, L. and Franciosini, E. and Magrini, L. and Jackson, R. J. and Jeffries, R. D. and D'Orazi, V. and Romano, D. and Sanna, N. and Tautvaišienė, G. and Tsantaki, M. and Wright, N. J. and Gilmore, G. and Bensby, T. and Bragaglia, A. and Pancino, E. and Smiljanic, R. and Bayo, A. and Carraro, G. and Gonneau, A. and Hourihane, A. and Morbidelli, L. and Worley, C. C.}},
  issn         = {{0004-6361}},
  keywords     = {{Galaxy: abundances; Galaxy: evolution; Open clusters and associations: general; Stars: abundances}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{EDP Sciences}},
  series       = {{Astronomy and Astrophysics}},
  title        = {{The Gaia -ESO Survey: Galactic evolution of lithium at high metallicity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202038688}},
  doi          = {{10.1051/0004-6361/202038688}},
  volume       = {{640}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}