Carbon Abundances of Three Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor Stars from High-Resolution Gemini-S/bHROS Spectra of the 8727A [C I] Line

TL;DR

This study analyzes carbon abundances in three carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars using high-resolution spectra, comparing [C I] line data with molecular lines, and discusses the impact of 3D and non-LTE effects on abundance measurements.

Contribution

First detailed comparison of [C I] and molecular carbon lines in CEMP stars, highlighting the importance of 3D and non-LTE corrections for accurate abundance determinations.

Findings

[C/Fe] ratios from [C I] agree with molecular lines for two stars.

Discrepancy in the most Fe-deficient star suggests severe 3D effects on molecular lines.

Nitrogen abundances from CN red system are higher than previous estimates.

Abstract

We present the results from an analysis of the 8727ang forbidden [C I] line in high-resolution Gemini-S/bHROS spectra of three CEMP stars. We find the [C/Fe] ratios based on the [C I] abundances of the two most Fe-rich stars in our sample (HIP 0507-1653: [Fe/H] = -1.42 and HIP 0054-2542: [Fe/H] = -2.66) to be in good agreement with previously determined CH and C_2 line-based values. For the most Fe-deficient star in our sample (HIP 1005-1439: [Fe/H] = -3.08), however, the [C/Fe] ratio is found to be 0.34 dex lower than the published molecular-based value. We have carried out 3D local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) calculations for [C I], and the resulting corrections are found to be modest for all three stars, suggesting that the discrepancy between the [C I] and molecular-based C abundances of HIP 1005-1439 is due to more severe 3D effects on the molecular lines. Carbon abundances are also derived from C I high-excitation lines and are found to be 0.45-0.64 dex higher than the [C I]-based abundances. Previously published non-LTE C I abundance corrections bring the [C I] and C I abundances into better agreement; however, targeted NLTE calculations for CEMP stars are clearly needed. We have also derived the abundances of N, K, and Fe for each star. The Fe abundances agree well with previously derived values, and the K abundances are similar to those of C-normal metal-poor stars. Nitrogen abundances have been derived from resolved lines of the CN red system. The abundances are found to be approximately 0.44 dex larger than literature values, which have been derived from CN blue bands near 3880 and 4215 ang. We discuss evidence that suggests that analyses of the CN blue system bands underestimate the N abundances of metal-poor giants.