The author addresses this problem, analyzing the different possible explanations for such an anomaly, which include interaction with a binary companion, the production of Li in the interior of the star with its subsequent transport to stellar exteriors, and the stellar interaction with planets. The author focuses on this last possibility, where the Li enrichment may be due to the ingestion of planets or brown dwarfs as the stars in question grew in size while becoming giants. She shows that this process is indeed able to explain an important fraction of giants with Li levels above the three times solar threshold, but that some other mechanism is needed to explain the remaining fraction. While this is an important discovery in its own right, the result that makes this thesis groundbreaking is its demonstration that the threshold between Li-normal and Li-rich is mass dependent rather than a fixed proportion of the Sun’s content. This corrects a fundamental misapprehension of the phenomenon and opens up a new framework in which to understand and solve the problem.
Finally, the author presents interesting observational applications and samples with which to test this new approach to the problem of Li enrichment in giants.
The author addresses this problem, analyzing the different possible explanations for such an anomaly, which include interaction with a binary companion, the production of Li in the interior of the star with its subsequent transport to stellar exteriors, and the stellar interaction with planets. The author focuses on this last possibility, where the Li enrichment may be due to the ingestion of planets or brown dwarfs as the stars in question grew in size while becoming giants. She shows that this process is indeed able to explain an important fraction of giants with Li levels above the three times solar threshold, but that some other mechanism is needed to explain the remaining fraction. While this is an important discovery in its own right, the result that makes this thesis groundbreaking is its demonstration that the threshold between Li-normal and Li-rich is mass dependent rather than a fixed proportion of the Sun’s content. This corrects a fundamental misapprehension of the phenomenon and opens up a new framework in which to understand and solve the problem.
Finally, the author presents interesting observational applications and samples with which to test this new approach to the problem of Li enrichment in giants.
Explaining Lithium Enriched Red Giant Branch Stars
131
Explaining Lithium Enriched Red Giant Branch Stars
131Hardcover(1st ed. 2018)
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9783030025823 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Springer International Publishing |
| Publication date: | 11/29/2018 |
| Series: | Springer Theses |
| Edition description: | 1st ed. 2018 |
| Pages: | 131 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d) |