The $i$-processes nucleosynthesis during the formation of He-rich hot-subdwarf stars

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Battich, T., Bertolami, M. M. Miller, Weiss, A., Dorsch, M., Serenelli, A. M., Justham, S.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Battich, T.
Bertolami, M. M. Miller
Weiss, A.
Dorsch, M.
Serenelli, A. M.
Justham, S.
author_facet Battich, T.
Bertolami, M. M. Miller
Weiss, A.
Dorsch, M.
Serenelli, A. M.
Justham, S.
contents It has been shown that proton ingestion episodes can happen in the formation of hot-subdwarf stars, and that neutron-capture processes are possible in those cases. Moreover, some helium-rich hot subdwarfs display extraordinarily high abundances of heavy elements such as Zr, Yr and Pb on their surfaces. We explore under which conditions neutron-capture processes can occur in late helium core flashes, i.e. those occurring in the cores of stripped red-giant stars. We compute evolutionary models through the helium core flash and the subsequent hydrogen ingestion episode in stripped red giant stars. Stellar structure models are then used in post-processing to compute the detailed evolution of neutron-capture elements. We find that for metallicities of $10^{-3}$ and below, neutron densities can be as high as $10^{15}\,$cm$^{-3}$ and intermediate neutron capture processes occur in some of our models. The results depend very strongly on the H-envelope mass that survives after the stripping. Interestingly, we find that computed abundances in some of our models closely match the element abundances up to tin observed for EC 22536-5304, the only well-studied star for which the hot-flasher scenario assumed in our models is the most likely evolutionary path. Intermediate neutron capture processes can occur in the He-core flash experienced by the cores of some stripped red giants, and might be connected to the abundances of heavy elements observed in some helium-rich hot-subdwarf stars. The agreement between the observed abundances in EC 22536-5304 and those of our models offers support to our nucleosynthesis calculations. Moreover, if confirmed, the idea that heavy element abundances retain signatures of the different evolutionary channels opens the possibility that heavy element abundances in iHe-sdOB stars can be used to infer their evolutionary origin.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_23541
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The $i$-processes nucleosynthesis during the formation of He-rich hot-subdwarf stars
Battich, T.
Bertolami, M. M. Miller
Weiss, A.
Dorsch, M.
Serenelli, A. M.
Justham, S.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
It has been shown that proton ingestion episodes can happen in the formation of hot-subdwarf stars, and that neutron-capture processes are possible in those cases. Moreover, some helium-rich hot subdwarfs display extraordinarily high abundances of heavy elements such as Zr, Yr and Pb on their surfaces. We explore under which conditions neutron-capture processes can occur in late helium core flashes, i.e. those occurring in the cores of stripped red-giant stars. We compute evolutionary models through the helium core flash and the subsequent hydrogen ingestion episode in stripped red giant stars. Stellar structure models are then used in post-processing to compute the detailed evolution of neutron-capture elements. We find that for metallicities of $10^{-3}$ and below, neutron densities can be as high as $10^{15}\,$cm$^{-3}$ and intermediate neutron capture processes occur in some of our models. The results depend very strongly on the H-envelope mass that survives after the stripping. Interestingly, we find that computed abundances in some of our models closely match the element abundances up to tin observed for EC 22536-5304, the only well-studied star for which the hot-flasher scenario assumed in our models is the most likely evolutionary path. Intermediate neutron capture processes can occur in the He-core flash experienced by the cores of some stripped red giants, and might be connected to the abundances of heavy elements observed in some helium-rich hot-subdwarf stars. The agreement between the observed abundances in EC 22536-5304 and those of our models offers support to our nucleosynthesis calculations. Moreover, if confirmed, the idea that heavy element abundances retain signatures of the different evolutionary channels opens the possibility that heavy element abundances in iHe-sdOB stars can be used to infer their evolutionary origin.
title The $i$-processes nucleosynthesis during the formation of He-rich hot-subdwarf stars
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23541