On the lithium abundance of the visual binary components $\xi$ Boo A (G8V) and $\xi$ Boo B (K5V)

TL;DR

This study measures lithium abundances and isotopic ratios in the binary stars $\xi$ Boo A and B using high-resolution spectroscopy, revealing differences in lithium content and isotopic composition that inform stellar evolution models.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed lithium isotopic analysis of $\xi$ Boo A and B, incorporating 3D-NLTE corrections and spot models, and compares their lithium levels to the Sun and cluster stars.

Findings

$\xi$ Boo A has high lithium abundance, 23 times solar.

$\xi$ Boo B has significantly lower lithium, with no detectable $^6$Li.

Both stars follow the lithium trend of similar-aged cluster stars.

Abstract

A spectroscopic investigation of the lithium resonance doublet in $\xi$ Boo A and $\xi$ Boo B in terms of both abundance and isotopic ratio is presented. We obtained new $R$=130\,000 spectra with a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) per pixel of up to 3200 using the 11.8m LBT and PEPSI. From fits with synthetic line profiles based on 1D-LTE MARCS model atmospheres and 3D-NLTE corrections, we determine the abundances of both isotopes. For $\xi$ Boo A, we find A(Li) = 2.40$\pm$0.03\,dex and $^6$Li/$^7$Li < 1.5$\pm$1.0\,\%\ in 1D-LTE, which increases to $\approx$2.45 for the 3D-NLTE case. For $\xi$ Boo B we obtain A(Li) = 0.37$\pm$0.09\,dex in 1D-LTE with an unspecified $^6$Li/$^7$Li level. Therefore, no $^6$Li is seen on any of the two stars. We consider a spot model for the Li fit for $\xi$ Boo B and find A(Li) = 0.45$\pm$0.09\,dex. The $^7$Li abundance is 23 times higher for $\xi$ Boo A than the Sun's, but three times lower than the Sun's for $\xi$ Boo B while both fit the trend of single stars in the similar-aged M35 open cluster. Effective temperatures are redetermined from the TiO band head strength. We note that the best-fit global metallicities are --0.13$\pm$0.01\,dex for $\xi$ Boo A but +0.13$\pm$0.02\,dex for $\xi$ Boo B. Lithium abundance for the K5V benchmark star 61\,Cyg\,A was obtained to A(Li)$\approx$0.53\,dex when including a spot model but to $\approx$0.15\,dex without a spot model.