Main-Sequence and sub-giant stars in the Globular Cluster NGC6397: The complex evolution of the lithium abundance

TL;DR

This study observes and analyzes lithium abundances in main-sequence and sub-giant stars within the globular cluster NGC6397, revealing complex evolutionary patterns and challenging existing models of lithium evolution.

Contribution

First measurement of Li I doublet in MS stars of a globular cluster, showing evolutionary changes in lithium abundance not explained by current models.

Findings

SG stars have higher Li abundance than MS stars by 0.1 dex

Li abundance increases with effective temperature

Li abundance varies with stellar evolutionary status

Abstract

Thanks to the high multiplex and efficiency of Giraffe at the VLT we have been able for the first time to observe the Li I doublet in the Main Sequence (MS) stars of a Globular Cluster. At the same time we observed Li in a sample of Sub-Giant (SG) stars of the same B-V colour. Our final sample is composed of 84 SG stars and 79 MS stars. In spite of the fact that SG and MS span the same temperature range we find that the equivalent widths of the Li I doublet in SG stars are systematically larger than those in MS stars, suggesting a higher Li content among SG stars. This is confirmed by our quantitative analysis. We derived the effective temperatures, from H$\alpha$ fitting, and NLTE Li abundances of the stars in our the sample, using 3D and 1D models. We find that SG stars have a mean Li abundance higher by 0.1dex than MS stars, using both 1D and 3D models. We also detect a positive slope of Li abundance with effective temperature. These results provide an unambiguous evidence that the Li abundance changes with evolutionary status. The physical mechanisms responsible for this behaviour are not yet clear, and none of the existing models seems to describe accurately these observations. Based on these conclusions, we believe that the cosmological lithium problem still remains an open question.