The evolution of C and O abundances in stellar populations

TL;DR

This study analyzes carbon and oxygen abundances in stars across different metallicities to understand their nucleosynthesis origins and the Galaxy's chemical evolution.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the trends of C and O abundances in various stellar populations using non-LTE analysis of high-resolution spectra.

Findings

Distinct [C/Fe] and [O/Fe] trends for different stellar populations

Identification of [C/O] trends related to Galactic chemical enrichment

Implications for nucleosynthesis sites of carbon

Abstract

Carbon and oxygen abundances in F and G main-sequence stars ranging in metallicity from [Fe/H] = -1.6 to +0.5 are determined from a non-LTE analysis of CI and OI atomic lines in high-resolution spectra. Both C and O are good tracers of stellar populations; distinct trends of [C/Fe] and [O/Fe] as a function of [Fe/H] are found for high- and low-alpha halo stars and for thick- and thin-disk stars. These trends and that of [C/O] provide new information on the nucleosynthesis sites of carbon and the time-scale for the chemical enrichment of the various Galactic components.