Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen abundances in Betelgeuse. (original) (raw)

ADS

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Abstract

Elemental abundances of C, N, and O in the red M supergiant Belegeuse are discussed to characterize their source. The discussion is based on previous data on weak CO second-overtone V-R lines near 1.6 micron, the NH fundamental V-R 1-0 and 2-1 bands between 3 and 4 microns, the OH fundamental V-R bands near 3 microns, and the CN red system lines near 2 microns. Attention is also given to the forbidden O I lines and the 8000 A CN red system lines, and to comparisons between models for the stellar atmosphere and the data. A model for an effective temperature of 3800 K, a surface gravity of 0.0, and a microturbulence of 4 km/sec is adopted which, if Betelgeuse is metal rich, would require forbidden lines of Fe/H to be near 0.1. The forbidden CNO would be -0.04 relative to the sun. The C/N ratio is nonsolar, which suggests contamination of the Betelgeuse atmosphere with CN processed material.

Publication:

The Astrophysical Journal

Pub Date:

September 1984

DOI:

10.1086/162401

Bibcode:

1984ApJ...284..223L

Keywords: