2004/07/13 by D. J. Lennon, J. -K. Lee, J.-K. Lee +2
Physics and Astronomy · #Abundance (ecology) #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Cluster (spacecraft) #Mixing (physics) #Nitrogen #Spectral line #Star (game theory) #Star cluster #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041653
published as Astron.Astrophys. 438 (2005) 265 · 7 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to A&A
arxiv created 2004/07/13 · openalex publication_date 2005/07/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
High-resolution UVES/VLT spectra of B 12, an extreme pole-on Be star in the SMC cluster NGC 330, have been analysed using non-LTE model atmospheres to obtain its chemical composition relative to the SMC standard star AV 304. We find a general underabundance of metals which can be understood in terms of an extra contribution to the stellar continuum due to emission from a disk which we estimate to be at the ~25% level. When this is corrected for, the nitrogen abundance for B 12 shows no evidence of enhancement by rotational mixing as has been found in other non-Be B-type stars in NGC 330, and is inconsistent with evolutionary models which include the effects of rotational mixing. A second Be star, NGC 330-B 17, is also shown to have no detectable nitrogen lines. Possible explanations for the lack of rotational mixing in these rapidly rotating stars are discussed, one promising solution being the possibility that magnetic fields might inhibit rotational mixing.