Solar carbon abundance from 3D non-LTE modelling of the diagnostic lines of the CH molecule

TL;DR

This study applies 3D non-LTE models to CH molecular lines in the solar spectrum to accurately determine the solar carbon abundance, highlighting the importance of advanced modelling for reliable stellar composition analysis.

Contribution

First application of 3D non-LTE modelling to CH lines in the solar spectrum, providing more accurate solar carbon abundance estimates compared to previous LTE analyses.

Findings

3D NLTE effects are small (~0.01 dex) in optical and IR CH lines.

3D NLTE models fit solar observations well across viewing angles.

1D LTE and NLTE models underestimate solar carbon abundance.

Abstract

The spectral lines of the CH molecule are a key carbon (C) abundance diagnostic in FGKM-type stars. These lines are detectable in metal-rich and, in contrast to atomic C lines, also in metal-poor late-type stars. However, only 3D LTE analyses of the CH lines have been performed so far. We test the formation of CH lines in the solar spectrum, using for the first time, 3D Non-LTE (NLTE) models. We also aim to derive the solar photospheric abundance of C, using the diagnostic transitions in the optical (4218 - 4356 $\r{A}$) and infrared (33025 - 37944 $\r{A}$). We use the updated NLTE model molecule from Popa et al. 2023 and different solar 3D radiation-hydrodynamics model atmospheres. The models are contrasted against new spatially-resolved optical solar spectra, and the center-to-limb variation (CLV) of CH lines is studied. We find generally small ($\sim$0.01 dex) NLTE effects in the optical and IR diagnostic CH A-X lines in the solar atmosphere. Both 3D NLTE and 3D LTE spectral modelling yield an excellent fit to the solar intensity observations at all viewing angles. The 1D LTE and 1D NLTE models fail to describe the line CLV, and lead to underestimated solar C abundances. The 3D NLTE modelling of diagnostic lines in the optical and IR yields a carbon abundance of A(C)=8.52$\pm$0.07 dex. The estimate is in agreement with recent results based on neutrino fluxes measured by Borexino. 3D NLTE modelling and tests on spatially-resolved solar data are essential to derive robust solar abundances. The analysis presented here focuses on CH, but we expect that similar effects will be present for other molecules of astrophysical interest.