Lithium in the Galaxy: current status and contribution from the low-mass giants?
Abstract
We discuss the evolution of Li in the Galaxy based on a large sample of dwarfs and giants collected from the cross-match of the Gaia and GALAH surveys. Data spans a wide range in metallicity and cover various Galactic evolutionary phases. Metal-poor dwarfs with [Fe/H] < -0.8 dex are found to have constant mean A(Li) = 2.2 dex with standard deviation of 0.14 dex but with a very slightly increasing trend with increase in metallicity. However, in the sub-solar metallicity range (-0.8 < [Fe/H] < 0 dex), Li has increased significantly from the initial value of about 2.2 dex to the present value of about 3.3 dex. However, in super-solar metallicity stars, Li is found to be decreasing with increasing metallicity. We also discuss briefly about a rare class of so called Li-rich low-mass giants as one of the promising candidate for Li enrichment in the Galaxy.
- Publication:
-
Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana
- Pub Date:
- 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020MmSAI..91..134D
- Keywords:
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- Surveys;
- Stars: abundances;
- Galaxy: evolution;
- Galaxy: abundances;
- Stars: evolution;
- Nucleosynthesis