LAMOST J1010+2358 is not a Pair-Instability Supernova Relic

TL;DR

This study refutes the claim that LAMOST J1010+2358 is a relic of a pair-instability supernova, showing it was enriched by a core-collapse supernova instead, impacting our understanding of early stellar populations.

Contribution

The paper provides a detailed non-LTE abundance analysis that clarifies the supernova origin of J1010+2358, challenging previous claims of its pair-instability supernova origin.

Findings

J1010+2358 was enriched by a core-collapse supernova.

It does not show the unique abundance pattern of a pair-instability supernova.

No stars have been confirmed as pair-instability supernova relics.

Abstract

The discovery of a star formed out of pair-instability supernova ejecta would have massive implications for the Population III star initial mass function and the existence of stars over 100 Msun, but none have yet been found. Recently, the star LAMOST J1010+2358 was claimed to be a star that formed out of gas enriched by a pair-instability supernova. We present a non-LTE abundance analysis of a new high-resolution Keck/HIRES spectrum of J1010+2358. We determined the carbon and aluminum abundances needed to definitively distinguish between enrichment by a pair-instability and core-collapse supernova. Our new analysis demonstrates that J1010+2358 does not have the unique abundance pattern of a a pair-instability supernova, but was instead enriched by the ejecta of a low mass core-collapse supernova. Thus, there are still no known stars displaying unambiguous signatures of pair-instability supernovae.