Detection of the Actinide Th in an r-process-enhanced Star with Accretion Origin
Abstract
The thorium and six second-peak r-process element (56 ≤ Z ≤ 72) abundances are determined for the α-poor star LAMOST J1124+4535 based on a high-resolution spectrum obtained with the High Dispersion Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope. The age of J1124+4535 is 11.3 ± 4.4 Gyr using thorium and other r-process element abundances. J1124+4535 is confirmed to be a Galactic halo metal-poor ([Fe/H] = ‑1.27 ± 0.1) star with extreme r-process element overabundance ([Eu/Fe] = 1.13 ± 0.08) and α element deficiency ([Mg/Fe] = ‑0.31 ± 0.09) by the LAMOST-Subaru project. Along with the subsolar α-to-iron ratios (e.g., [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe], [Ca/Fe]), the relatively low abundances of Na, Cr, Ni, and Zn in J1124+4535 show a significant departure from the general trends of the Galactic halo but are in good agreement with those of dwarf galaxies. The chemical abundances and kinematics of J1124+4535 suggest it was formed in the late stage of star formation in a dwarf galaxy that has been disrupted by the Milky Way. The star formation of its progenitor dwarf galaxy lasted more than 2 Gyr and has been affected by a rare r-process event before the occurrence of accretion event.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 2024
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/ad2fa4
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2404.11069
- Bibcode:
- 2024ApJ...965...79X
- Keywords:
-
- Milky Way stellar halo;
- Stellar abundances;
- Galaxy mergers;
- 1060;
- 1577;
- 608;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 figures, 3 tables