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Hauptverfasser: Ryde, Nils, Kocher, Jess, Nandakumar, Govind, Hartman, Henrik, Molero, Marta, Jönsson, Henrik, Mace, Gregory, Sawczynec, Erica, Kaplan, Kyle F.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.21332
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author Ryde, Nils
Kocher, Jess
Nandakumar, Govind
Hartman, Henrik
Molero, Marta
Jönsson, Henrik
Mace, Gregory
Sawczynec, Erica
Kaplan, Kyle F.
author_facet Ryde, Nils
Kocher, Jess
Nandakumar, Govind
Hartman, Henrik
Molero, Marta
Jönsson, Henrik
Mace, Gregory
Sawczynec, Erica
Kaplan, Kyle F.
contents The Galactic Center and inner disk of the Milky Way contain complex stellar populations obscured by heavy dust extinction. To study their chemical composition, high-resolution near-infrared (near-IR) spectroscopy is necessary. Expanding the set of elements measurable in the near-IR, especially neutron-capture elements, improves our ability to trace nucleosynthesis and Galactic chemical evolution. This work aims to identify and characterize a spectral line suitable for determining rubidium (Rb) abundances. Rb is produced in roughly equal parts by the r- and s-processes. We analyze high-resolution (R = 45,000) IGRINS near-IR spectra of 40 M giants in the solar neighborhood, most observed with Gemini South. We perform spectral synthesis of the Rb I line at 15289.48 A, using new log(gf) values and including an astrophysical calibration of the blending Fe I lines. The resulting [Rb/Fe] ratios are compared to other neutron-capture elements and interpreted with chemical evolution models. We demonstrate that the used Rb line is a reliable abundance indicator in M giants and the coolest K giants, but becomes too weak at higher temperatures. [Rb/Fe] shows a decreasing trend with metallicity, mirroring that of ytterbium (Yb), another mixed r-/s-process element. Our results agree with optical studies, validating the use of this near-IR line. Comparisons with chemical evolution models confirm that both s- and r-process sources are needed to explain the Rb trend. This work adds Rb to the list of elements measurable in high-resolution H- and K-band spectra, enabling studies of one more neutron-capture element in dust-obscured regions like the Galactic Center and inner disk.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_21332
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Rubidium Abundances in Cool Giants from High-Resolution H-band Spectra: A New Diagnostic for Galactic Chemical Evolution
Ryde, Nils
Kocher, Jess
Nandakumar, Govind
Hartman, Henrik
Molero, Marta
Jönsson, Henrik
Mace, Gregory
Sawczynec, Erica
Kaplan, Kyle F.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
The Galactic Center and inner disk of the Milky Way contain complex stellar populations obscured by heavy dust extinction. To study their chemical composition, high-resolution near-infrared (near-IR) spectroscopy is necessary. Expanding the set of elements measurable in the near-IR, especially neutron-capture elements, improves our ability to trace nucleosynthesis and Galactic chemical evolution. This work aims to identify and characterize a spectral line suitable for determining rubidium (Rb) abundances. Rb is produced in roughly equal parts by the r- and s-processes. We analyze high-resolution (R = 45,000) IGRINS near-IR spectra of 40 M giants in the solar neighborhood, most observed with Gemini South. We perform spectral synthesis of the Rb I line at 15289.48 A, using new log(gf) values and including an astrophysical calibration of the blending Fe I lines. The resulting [Rb/Fe] ratios are compared to other neutron-capture elements and interpreted with chemical evolution models. We demonstrate that the used Rb line is a reliable abundance indicator in M giants and the coolest K giants, but becomes too weak at higher temperatures. [Rb/Fe] shows a decreasing trend with metallicity, mirroring that of ytterbium (Yb), another mixed r-/s-process element. Our results agree with optical studies, validating the use of this near-IR line. Comparisons with chemical evolution models confirm that both s- and r-process sources are needed to explain the Rb trend. This work adds Rb to the list of elements measurable in high-resolution H- and K-band spectra, enabling studies of one more neutron-capture element in dust-obscured regions like the Galactic Center and inner disk.
title Rubidium Abundances in Cool Giants from High-Resolution H-band Spectra: A New Diagnostic for Galactic Chemical Evolution
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.21332