The present-day chemical composition of the SMC from UVES spectra of the sharp-lined, B-type dwarf AV 304
Abstract
High-resolution spectroscopic VLT/UVES observations are presented for the B-type main-sequence star, AV 304, in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). These spectra have been analysed using LTE model-atmosphere techniques, to derive stellar atmospheric parameters and chemical compositions. As AV 304 is located within the hydrogen burning main-sequence band, its chemical composition should reflect that of the SMC interstellar medium (ISM). A detailed line-by-line differential analysis has been undertaken relative to a Galactic comparison star. A general metal deficiency for the alpha -process elements O, Si & S of -0.43+/-0.05 dex is found for AV 304, with iron having a similar underabundance. Oxygen may be relatively overabundant by ~ 0.1 dex and carbon and aluminium underabundant by ~ 0.2 dex. A large nitrogen underabundance (of -1.2 dex relative to hydrogen and -0.7 dex relative to iron) is found. This is interpreted in terms of the CNO bi-cycle having been suppressed in the SMC. Furthermore, the large nitrogen deficiency is in excellent agreement with that found for SMC H II regions. Indeed, this represents a first for stellar astrophysics - confirming the low base-line nitrogen composition of the SMC ISM (viz. 12+log(N/H) ~ 6.66 +/- 0.10 dex).
- Publication:
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:20021653
- Bibcode:
- 2003A&A...400...21R
- Keywords:
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- stars: abundances;
- stars: atmospheres;
- stars: early-type;
- galaxies: individual: Small Magellanic Cloud