Aims. We have determined Sr abundance in a sample of 31 red giant branch stars located in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc with the aim to identify potential differences in the Sr abundance between first population (1P, Na-poor) and second population (2P, Na-rich) stars. Methods. We derived the Na and Sr abundances from the archival spectra obtained with the UVES spectrograph. To do this, we used 1D ATLAS9 model atmospheres and a 1D local thermodynamic equilibrium spectral synthesis method. Particular attention was paid to assessing the potential impact of CN line blending on the obtained Sr abundances. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential influence of convection on the Sr line formation by using 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres computed with the CO 5 BOLD code. Results. Our results suggest a weak correlation between the abundances of Sr and Na. Together with a similar correlation between the abundances of Zr and Na determined in our previous study, our analysis of Sr suggests that polluters that have enriched 2P stars with light elements may have produced some s-process elements as well. The mean Sr abundance determined in 31 red giant branch stars of 47 Tuc is ⟨[Sr/Fe]⟩ = 0.18 ± 0.08 (the error denotes the standard deviation due to the star-to-star abundance scatter). This value is within the range of the Sr abundance variation that is observed in Galactic field stars of similar metallicity. The mean [Sr/Zr] abundance ratio in our sample stars suggests that the two s-process elements could have been synthesized by either low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars ( M = 1 − 4 M ⊙ ) or massive ( M = 10 − 20 M ⊙ ) fast-rotating ( v rot = 200 − 300 km s −1 ) stars.
The modeling of convection is a long standing problem in stellar physics. Up-to-now, all ad hoc models rely on a free parameter alpha (among others) which has no real physical justification and is therefore poorly constrained. However, a link exists between this free parameter and the entropy of the stellar adiabat. Prescriptions, derived from 3D stellar atmospheric models, are available that provide entropy as a function of stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, chemical composition). This can provide constraints on alpha through the development of entropy-calibrated models. Several questions arise as these models are increasingly used. Which prescription should be used? How do uncertainties impact entropy-calibrated models? We aim to study the three existing prescriptions and determine which one should be used, and how. We implemented the entropy-calibration method into the stellar evolution code Cesam2k20 and performed comparisons with the Sun and the alpha Cen system. In addition, we used data from the CIFIST grid of 3D atmosphere models to evaluate the accuracy of the prescriptions. Of the three entropy prescriptions available, we determine which one best reproduces the entropies of the 3D models. We also demonstrate that the entropy obtained from this prescription should be corrected for the evolving chemical composition and for an entropy offset different between various EoS tables, following a precise procedure, otherwise classical parameters obtained from the models will be strongly biased. Finally, we also provide table with entropy of the adiabat of the CIFIST grid, as well as fits of these entropies. We performed a precise examination of entropy-calibrated modelling, and gave recommendations on which adiabatic entropy prescription to use, how to correct it and to implement the method into a stellar evolution code.
Context . Large-scale stellar surveys, such as SDSS-V, 4MOST, WEAVE, and PLATO, require accurate atmospheric models and synthetic spectra of stars for accurate analyses of fundamental stellar parameters and chemical abundances. Aims . The primary goal of our work is to develop a new approach to solve radiation-hydrodynamics (RHD) and generate model stellar spectra in a self-consistent and highly efficient framework. Methods . We build upon the Copenhagen legacy RHD code, the MULTI3D non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) code, and the DISPATCH high-performance framework. The new approach allows us to calculate 3D RHD models of stellar atmospheres on timescales of a few thousand CPU hours and to perform subsequent spectrum synthesis in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) or NLTE for the desired physical conditions within the parameter space of FGK-type stars. Results . We compare the 3D RHD solar model with other available models and validate its performance against solar observations, including the centre-to-limb variation of intensities and key solar diagnostic lines of H and Fe. We show that the performance of the new code allows to overcome the main bottleneck in 3D NLTE spectroscopy and enables calculations of multi-dimensional grids of synthetic stellar observables for comparison with modern astronomical observations.
Context. While most (if not all) Type I Galactic globular clusters (GGCs) are characterised by spreads in the abundances of light chemical elements (e.g. Li, N, O, Na, Mg, Al), it is not yet well established whether similar spreads may exist in s-process elements as well. Aims. We investigated the possible difference in Ba abundance between the primordial (1P) and polluted (2P) stars in the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) 47 Tuc (NGC 104). For this, we obtained homogeneous abundances of Fe, Na, and Ba in a sample of 261 red giant branch (RGB) stars which is the largest sample used for Na and Ba abundance analysis in any GGC so far. Methods. Abundances of Na and Ba were determined using archival GIRAFFE/VLT spectra and 1D non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) abundance analysis methodology. Results. Contrary to the finding of Gratton et al. (2013), we did not detect any significant Ba-Na correlation or 2P-1P Ba abundance difference in the sample of 261 RGB stars in 47 Tuc. This corroborates the result of D'Orazi et al. (2010) who found no statistically significant Ba-Na correlation in 110 RGB stars in this GGC. The average barium-to-iron ratio obtained in the sample of 261 RGB stars, $\langle{\rm Ba/Fe}_{\rm 1D~NLTE}\rangle = -0.01\pm0.06$, agrees well with those determined in Galactic field stars at this metallicity and may therefore represent the abundance of primordial proto-cluster gas that has not been altered during the subsequent chemical evolution of the cluster.
Aims. We determined abundances of Mg and K in the atmospheres of 53 (Mg) and 75 (K) turn-off (TO) stars of the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc. The obtained abundances, together with those of Li, O, and Na that we had earlier determined for the same sample of stars, were used to search for possible relations between the abundances of K and other light elements, Li, O, Na, and Mg, as well as the connections between the chemical composition of TO stars and their kinematical properties. Methods. Abundances of Mg and K were determined using archival high resolution VLT FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectra, in combination with the one-dimensional (1D) non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) spectral synthesis methodology. Spectral line profiles were computed with the MULTI code, using 1D hydrostatic ATLAS9 stellar model atmospheres. We also utilized three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamical CO5BOLD and 1D hydrostatic LHD model atmospheres for computing 3D–1D LTE abundance corrections for the spectral lines of Mg and K, in order to assess the influence of convection on their formation in the atmospheres of TO stars. Results. The determined average abundance-to-iron ratios and their root mean square variations due to star-to-star abundance spreads were 〈[Mg/Fe]〉1D NLTE = 0.47 ± 0.12, and 〈[K/Fe]〉1D NLTE = 0.39 ± 0.09. Although the data suggest the possible existence of a weak correlation in the [K/Fe]–[Na/Fe] plane, its statistical significance is low. No statistically significant relations between the abundance of K and other light elements were detected. Also, we did not find any significant correlations or anti-correlations between the [Mg/Fe] and [K/Fe] ratios and projected distance from the cluster center. Similarly, no relations between the absolute radial velocities of individual stars and abundances of Mg and K in their atmospheres were detected. The 3D–1D abundance corrections were found to be small (≤0.1 dex) for the lines of Mg and K used in this study, thus indicating that the influence of convection on their formation is small.
Aims. We investigate possible relations between the abundances of zinc and the light elements sodium, magnesium, and potassium in the atmospheres of red giant branch (RGB) stars of the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc and study connections between the chemical composition and dynamical properties of the cluster RGB stars. Methods. The abundance of zinc was determined in 27 RGB stars of 47 Tuc using 1D local thermal equilibrium (LTE) synthetic line profile fitting to the high-resolution 2dF/HERMES spectra obtained with the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). Synthetic spectra used in the fitting procedure were computed with the SYNTHE code and 1D ATLAS9 stellar model atmospheres. Results. The average 1D LTE zinc-to-iron abundance ratio and its RMS variations due to star-to-star abundance spread determined in the sample of 27 RGB stars is 〈[Zn/Fe]〉1D LTE = 0.11 ± 0.09. We did not detect any statistically significant relations between the abundances of zinc and those of light elements. Neither did we find any significant correlation or anticorrelation between the zinc abundance in individual stars and their projected distance from the cluster center. Finally, no statistically significant relation between the absolute radial velocities of individual stars and the abundance of zinc in their atmospheres was detected. The obtained average [Zn/Fe]1DLTE ratio agrees well with those determined in this cluster in earlier studies and nearly coincides with that of Galactic field stars at this metallicity. All these results suggest that nucleosynthesis of zinc and light elements proceeded in separate, unrelated pathways in 47 Tuc.
Aims. We studied the influence of convection on the spectral energy distributions (SEDs), photometric magnitudes, and colour indices of different types of stars across the H–R diagram. Methods. The 3D hydrodynamical CO 5 BOLD, averaged ⟨3D⟩, and 1D hydrostatic LHD model atmospheres were used to compute SEDs of stars on the main sequence (MS), main sequence turn-off (TO), subgiant branch (SGB), and red giant branch (RGB), in each case at two different effective temperatures and two metallicities, [M∕H] = 0.0 and − 2.0. Using the obtained SEDs, we calculated photometric magnitudes and colour indices in the broad-band Johnson-Cousins UBVRI and 2MASS JHK s , and the medium-band Strömgren uvby photometric systems. Results. The 3D–1D differences in photometric magnitudes and colour indices are small in both photometric systems and typically do not exceed ± 0.03 mag. Only in the case of the coolest giants located on the upper RGB are the differences in the U and u bands able reach ≈−0.2 mag at [M∕H] = 0.0 and ≈−0.1 mag at [M∕H] = −2.0. Generally, the 3D–1D differences are largest in the blue-UV part of the spectrum and decrease towards longer wavelengths. They are also sensitive to the effective temperature and are significantly smaller in hotter stars. Metallicity also plays a role and leads to slightly larger 3D–1D differences at [M∕H] = 0.0. All these patterns are caused by a complex interplay between the radiation field, opacities, and horizontal temperature fluctuations that occur due to convective motions in stellar atmospheres. Although small, the 3D–1D differences in the magnitudes and colour indices are nevertheless comparable to or larger than typical photometric uncertainties and may therefore cause non-negligible systematic differences in the estimated effective temperatures.
We use 3D magnetohydrodynamic (COBOLD)-B-5 model atmospheres to study the interplay between magnetic fields and convection in the atmospheres of red giant stars. We find that vortex-like structures occur prominently in stars with stronger magnetic fields and lead to alterations of their thermal structures.
Although observational data unequivocally point out to the presence of chromospheres in red giant stars, no attempts have been made so far to model them using 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. We therefore compute an exploratory 3D hydrodynamical model atmosphere for a cool red giant in order to study the dynamical and thermodynamic properties of its chromosphere, as well as the influence of the chromosphere on its observable properties. 3D radiation hydrodynamics simulations are carried out with the CO5BOLD model atmosphere code for a star with the atmospheric parameters (Teff=4010 K, log g=1.5, [M/H]=0.0), which are similar to those of the K-type giant star Aldebaran (alpha Tau). ... we compute the emergent continuum intensity maps at different wavelengths, spectral line profiles of Ca II K, the Ca II infrared triplet line at 854.2nm, and H alpha, as well as the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the emergent radiative flux. The initial model quickly develops a dynamical chromosphere characterised by propagating and interacting shock waves. The peak temperatures in the chromospheric shock fronts reach values on the order of up to 5000 K although the shock fronts remain quite narrow. Like for the Sun, the gas temperature distribution in the upper layers is composed of a cool component due to adiabatic cooling in the expanding post-shock regions and a hot component due to shock waves. For this red giant model, the hot component is a rather flat high-temperature tail, which nevertheless affects the resulting average temperatures significantly. The simulations show that the atmospheres of red giant stars are dynamic and intermittent. Consequently, many observable properties cannot be reproduced with one-dimensional static models but demand for advanced 3D HD modelling. Furthermore, including a chromosphere in the models might produce significant contributions to the emergent UV flux.
We study the abundances of Na, Mg, and K in the atmospheres of 32 RGB stars in the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) 47 Tuc, with the goal to investigate the possible existence of Na-K and Mg-K correlations/anti-correlations, similar to those that were recently discovered in two other GGCs, NGC 2419 and 2808. The abundances of K, Na, and Mg were determined using high-resolution 2df spectra obtained with the AAT. The 1D NLTE abundance estimates were obtained using 1D hydrostatic ATLAS9 model atmospheres and spectral line profiles synthesized with the MULTI package. We also used 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD and 1D hydrostatic LHD model atmospheres to compute 3D-1D LTE abundance corrections, $\Delta_{\rm 3D-1D~LTE}$, for the spectral lines of Na, Mg, and K used in our study. These abundance corrections were used to understand the role of convection in the formation of spectral lines, as well as to estimate the differences in the abundances obtained with the 3D hydrodynamical and 1D hydrostatic model atmospheres. The average element-to-iron abundance ratios and their RMS variations due to star-to-star abundance spreads determined in our sample of RGB stars were $\langle{\rm [Na/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.42\pm0.13$, $\langle{\rm [Mg/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.41\pm0.11$, and $\langle{\rm [K/Fe]}\rangle^{\rm 1D~NLTE}=0.05\pm0.14$. We found no statistically significant relations between the abundances of the three elements studied here. Also, there were no abundance trends with the distance from the cluster center, nor any statistically significant relations between the abundance/abundance ratios and absolute radial velocities of individual stars. All these facts suggest the similarity of K abundance in stars that belong to different generations in 47 Tuc which, in turn, may hint that evolution of K in this particular cluster was unrelated to the nucleosynthesis of Na and/or Mg.
Although oxygen is an important tracer of the early Galactic evolution, its abundance trends with metallicity are still relatively poorly known at [Fe/H] < -2.5. This is in part due to a lack of reliable oxygen abundance indicators in the metal-poor stars, in part due to shortcomings in 1D LTE abundance analyses. In this study we determined the oxygen abundance in the metal-poor halo giant HD 122563 using a 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmosphere. Our main goal was to understand whether a 3D LTE analysis may help to improve the reliability of oxygen abundances determined from OH UV lines in comparison to those obtained using standard 1D LTE methodology. The oxygen abundance in HD 122563 was determined using 71 OH UV lines located in the wavelength range between 308-330 nm. The analysis was done using a high-resolution VLT UVES spectrum with a 1D LTE spectral line synthesis performed using the SYNTHE package and classical ATLAS9 model atmosphere. Subsequently, a 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD, and 1D hydrostatic LHD model atmospheres were used in order to compute 3D-1D abundance corrections. For this, the microturbulence velocity used with the 1D LHD model atmosphere was derived from the hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmosphere. As in previous studies, we found trends of the 1D LTE oxygen abundances determined from OH UV lines with line parameters, such as the line excitation potential and the line strength. These trends become significantly less pronounced in 3D LTE. Using OH UV lines we determined a 3D LTE oxygen abundance in HD 122563 of A(O) = 6.23 +/- 0.13. This is in fair agreement with the oxygen abundance obtained from OH IR lines, A(O) = 6.39 +/- 0.11, but it is noticeably lower than that determined using the forbidden [OI] line, A(O) = 6.53 +/- 0.15. While the exact cause for this discrepancy remains unclear, it is very likely that non-LTE effects may play a decisive role here.
Different simplified approaches are used to account for the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects with 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. In certain cases, chemical abundances are derived in 1D NLTE and corrected for the 3D effects by adding 3D-1D LTE abundance corrections (3D+NLTE approach). Alternatively, average <3D> model atmospheres are sometimes used to substitute for the full 3D hydrodynamical models. We tested whether the results obtained using these simplified schemes (i.e., 3D+NLTE, <3D> NLTE) may reproduce those derived using the full 3D NLTE computations. The tests were made using 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmospheres of the main sequence (MS), main sequence turn-off (TO), subgiant (SGB), and red giant branch (RGB) stars, all at [M/H]=0.0 and -2.0. Our goal was to investigate the role of 3D and NLTE effects on the formation of the 670.8 nm lithium line by assessing strengths of synthetic 670.8 nm line profiles, computed using 3D/1D NLTE/LTE approaches. Our results show that Li 670.8 nm line strengths obtained using different methodologies differ only slightly in most of the models at solar metallicity. However, the line strengths predicted with the 3D NLTE and 3D+NLTE approaches become significantly different at subsolar metallicities. At [M/H]=-2.0, this may lead to (3D NLTE)-(3D+NLTE) differences in the predicted lithium abundance of ~0.46 and ~0.31 dex in the TO and RGB stars, respectively. On the other hand, NLTE line strengths computed with the average <3D> and 1D model atmospheres are similar to those obtained with the full 3D NLTE approach for MS, TO, SGB, and RGB stars, at all metallicities; 3D-<3D> and 3D-1D differences in the predicted abundances are always less than ~0.04 dex and ~0.08 dex, respectively. However, neither of the simplified approaches can reliably substitute 3D NLTE spectral synthesis when precision is required.
Aims. Because of the complexities involved in treating spectral line formation in full 3D and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE), different simplified approaches are sometimes used to account for the NLTE effects with 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. In certain cases, chemical abundances are derived in 1DNLTE and then corrected for the 3D effects by adding 3D-1D LTE (Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium, LTE) abundance corrections (3D+NLTE approach). Alternatively, average < 3D > model atmospheres are sometimes used to substitute for the full 3D hydrodynamical models.Methods. In this work we tested whether the results obtained using these simplified schemes (3D+NLTE, < 3D > NLTE) may reproduce those derived using the full 3DNLTE computations. The tests were made using 3D hydrodynamical (COBOLD)-B-5 model atmospheres of the main sequence (MS), main sequence turn-off (TO), subgiant (SGB), and red giant branch (RGB) stars, all at two metallicities, [M/H] = 0.0 and -2.0. Our goal was to investigate the role of 3D and NLTE effects on the formation of the 670.8 nm lithium resonance line. This was done by assessing differences in the strengths of synthetic 670.8 nm line profiles, which were computed using 3D/1D NLTE/LTE approaches.Results. Our results show that Li 670.8 nm line strengths obtained using different methodologies differ only slightly in most of the models at solar metallicity studied here. However, the line strengths predicted with the 3DNLTE and 3D+NLTE approaches become significantly different at subsolar metallicities. At [M/H] = -2.0, this may lead to (3DNLTE)-(3D+NLTE) differences in the predicted lithium abundance of similar to 0.46 and similar to 0.31 dex in the TO and RGB stars respectively. On the other hand, NLTE line strengths computed with the average < 3D > and 1D model atmospheres are similar to those obtained with the full 3DNLTE approach forMS, TO, SGB, and RGB stars, at all metallicities; 3D-< 3D > and 3D-1D differences in the predicted abundances are always less than similar to 0.04 dex and similar to 0.08 dex, respectively. However, neither of the simplified approaches can reliably substitute 3DNLTE spectral synthesis when precision is required.
We study the influence of convection on the asymmetries and Doppler shifts of Fe I spectral lines in the metal-poor red giant HD 122563. To this end, we compute theoretical Fe I line shifts and line bisectors using 3D hydrodynamical model atmosphere of HD 122563 calculated with the CO5BOLD code. We then make a detailed comparison of the theoretical line shifts and bisectors with those derived from the high quality HARPS spectrum of HD 122563 taken from the ESO Science Archive Facility (R = 115 000, average signal-to-noise ratio, S/N = 310). In general, we find a good agreement between the theoretically predicted and observed Doppler shifts of Fe I line cores, with somewhat larger discrepancies seen in the case of weaker (equivalent width W < 5 pm) and stronger lines (W > 11 pm). Both observed and theoretical coreshifts cover a range between 0 and -1 km/s, with increasingly stronger blueshifts for weaker lines and slight hints of a coreshift dependence on wavelength. Theoretical bisectors reproduce the observed ones reasonably well too, however, theoretical bisectors of the weak red (lambda > 600 nm) Fe I lines have blueshifts that are by up to 200 m/s larger than observed. The obtained results therefore suggest that the current CO5BOLD models are capable of reproducing the large-scale velocity fields in the atmosphere of HD 122563 suficiently well. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed in order to understand the physical reasons behind the discrepancies in theoretical predictions and observed properties of the weakest and strongest Fe I lines.
During the recent years significant progress has been made in the modeling of red giant atmospheres with the aid of 3D hydrodynamical model atmosphere codes. In this contribution we provide an overview of selected results obtained in this context by utilizing 3D hydrodynamical CO5BOLD stellar model atmospheres. Hydrodynamical simulations show that convective motions lead to significant differences in the atmospheric structures of red giants with respect to those predicted by the classical 1D model atmospheres. Results of these simulations also show that in certain cases 1D models fail to reproduce even the average properties of the 3D hydrodynamical models, such as P-T profiles. Large horizontal temperature fluctuations in the 3D model atmospheres, as well as differences between the temperature profiles of the average <3D> and 1D models, lead to large discrepancies in the strengths of spectral lines predicted by the 3D and 1D model atmospheres. This is especially important in models at lowest metallicities ([M/H]<-2.0) where the 3D-1D abundance differences may reach (or even exceed) -0.6 dex for lines of neutral atoms and molecules. We also discuss several simplifications and numerical aspects involved in the present 3D hydrodynamical modeling of red giant atmospheres, and briefly address several issues where urgent progress may be needed.
In this work we have used 3D hydrodynamical (CO5BOLD) and 1D hydrostatic (LHD) stellar atmosphere models to study the importance of convection and horizontal temperature inhomogeneities in stellar abundance work related to late-type giants. We have found that for a number of key elements, such as Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe, Ni, Zn, Ba, Eu, differences in abundances predicted by 3D and 1D models are typically minor (< 0.1 dex) at solar metallicity. However, at [M/H] = -3 they become larger and reach to -0.5...-0.8 dex. In case of neutral atoms and fixed metallicity, the largest abundance differences were obtained for the spectral lines with lowest excitation potential, while for ionized species the largest 3D-1D abundance differences were found for lines of highest excitation potential. The large abundance differences at low metallicity are caused by large horizontal temperature fluctuations and lower mean temperature in the outer layers of the 3D hydrodynamical model compared with its 1D counterpart.
We compare the abundances of various chemical species as derived with 3D hydrodynamical and classical 1D stellar atmosphere codes in a, late-type giant characterized by T-eff = 3640 K, log g = 1.0, [M/H] = 0.0. For this particular set of atmospheric parameters the 3D-1D abundance differences are generally small for neutral atoms and molecules but they may reach up to 0.3-0.4 dex in case of ions. The 3D-1D differences generally become increasingly more negative at higher excitation potentials and are typically largest in the optical wavelength range. Their sign can be both positive and negative, and depends on the excitation potential and wavelength of a given spectral line. While our results obtained with this particular late-type giant model suggest that 1D stellar atmosphere models may be safe to use with neutral atoms and molecules, care should be taken if they are exploited with ions.