Lithium abundances in giants as a function of stellar mass: An evidence for He-flash as the source of Li enhancement in low mass giants

TL;DR

This study investigates lithium abundance patterns in giant stars of different masses, providing evidence that the helium flash event in low-mass giants is a key process for lithium enrichment, supported by a large observational dataset.

Contribution

It offers new observational evidence linking the helium flash to lithium enrichment in low-mass giants, using a large sample with asteroseismic data and spectral analysis.

Findings

Li-rich giants are mainly found among primary red clump stars with masses ≤ 2 M_sun

Observed Li abundances in secondary red clump giants match theoretical models

Helium-flash is likely responsible for Li enhancement in low-mass giants

Abstract

In this work, we studied the distribution of lithium abundances in giants as a function of stellar mass. We used a sample of 1240 giants common among Kepler photometric and LAMOST medium resolution (R $\approx$ 7500) spectroscopic survey fields. The asteroseismic $\Delta$P - $\Delta \nu$ diagram is used to define core He-burning red clump giants and red giant branch stars with inert He-core. Li abundances have been derived using spectral synthesis for the entire sample stars. Directly measured values of asteroseismic parameters $\Delta$P(or $\Delta \Pi_1$) and $\Delta \nu$ are either taken from the literature or measured in this study. Of the 777 identified red clump giants, we found 668 low mass ($\leq$ 2~M$_{\odot}$) primary red clump giants and 109 high mass ($>$ 2~M$_{\odot}$) secondary red clump giants. Observed Li abundances in secondary red clump giants agree with the theoretical model predictions. The lack of Li-rich giants among secondary red clump giants and the presence of Li-rich, including super Li-rich giants, among primary red clump stars reinforces the idea that Helium-flash holds the key for Li enrichment among low-mass giants. The results will further constrain theoretical models searching for a physical mechanism for Li enhancement among low-mass red clump giants. Results also serve as observational evidence that only giants with mass less than $\approx$ 2~M$_{\odot}$ develop degenerate He-core and undergo He-flash.