On the origin of stars with and without planets. Tc trends and clues to Galactic evolution

TL;DR

This study investigates how the chemical composition of solar-like stars, particularly the abundance trends related to condensation temperature, correlates with stellar age, galactic origin, and planet presence, revealing insights into galactic evolution and planet formation.

Contribution

It identifies correlations between Tc slope and stellar age, surface gravity, and galactic origin, providing new clues on how stellar chemical signatures relate to galactic evolution and planet formation.

Findings

Tc slope correlates with stellar age and surface gravity.

Stars from inner Galaxy have fewer refractory elements.

Planet-hosting stars show steeper Tc slopes, influenced by age and galactic origin.

Abstract

We explore a sample of 148 solar-like stars to search for a possible correlation between the slopes of the abundance trends versus condensation temperature (known as the Tc slope) with stellar parameters and Galactic orbital parameters in order to understand the nature of the peculiar chemical signatures of these stars and the possible connection with planet formation. We find that the Tc slope significantly correlates (at more than 4sigma) with the stellar age and the stellar surface gravity. We also find tentative evidence that the Tc slope correlates with the mean galactocentric distance of the stars (Rmean), suggesting that those stars that originated in the inner Galaxy have fewer refractory elements relative to the volatiles. While the average Tc slope for planet-hosting solar analogs is steeper than that of their counterparts without planets, this difference probably reflects the difference in their age and Rmean. We conclude that the age and probably the Galactic birth place are determinant to establish the star's chemical properties. Old stars (and stars with inner disk origin) have a lower refractory-to-volatile ratio.