Lithium destruction and production observed in red giant stars
Abstract
According to standard stellar evolution, lithium is destroyed throughout most of the evolution of low- to intermediate-mass stars. However, a number of evolved stars on the red giant branch (RGB) and the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) are known to contain a considerable amount of Li, whose origin is not always understood well. Here we present the latest development on the observational side to obtain a better understanding of Li-rich K giants (RGB), moderately Li-rich low-mass stars on the AGB, as well as very Li-rich intermediate-mass AGB stars possibly undergoing the standard hot bottom burning phase. These last ones probably also enrich the interstellar medium with freshly produced Li.
Based on observations at the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory, Cerro Paranal/Chile under Programme 083.D-0046(A).- Publication:
-
Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana Supplementi
- Pub Date:
- 2012
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.1206.2759
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1206.2759
- Bibcode:
- 2012MSAIS..22...56U
- Keywords:
-
- Stars: late-type;
- Stars: evolution;
- Stars: abundances;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 8 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of the workshop "Lithium in the Cosmos", held at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris in February 27-29, 2012. Eds. F. Iocco, P. Bonifacio, E. Vangioni. To be published in Mem.S.A.It. Suppl., Vol 22