Unique Chemical Composition of the Very Metal-poor Star LAMOST J1645+4357

Abstract

We report on the chemical composition of the very metal-poor (VMP; [Fe/H] = −2.9) star LAMOST J1645+4357, which was identified as a red giant having peculiar abundance ratios by Li et al. The standard abundance analysis is carried out for this object and the well-studied metal-poor star HD 122563, which has similar atmospheric parameters. LAMOST J1645+4357 has a remarkable abundance set, highlighted by these features: (1) nitrogen is significantly enhanced ([N/Fe] = +1.4), and the total abundance of C and N is also very high ([(C+N)/Fe] = +0.9); (2) α -elements are overabundant with respect to iron, as generally found in VMP stars; (3) Ti, Sc, Co, and Zn are significantly deficient; (4) Cr and Mn are enhanced compared to most of VMP stars; and (5) Sr and Ba are deficient, and the Sr/Ba ratio ([Sr/Ba] = −1.0) is significantly lower than the value expected for the r -process. The overall abundance pattern of this object from C to Zn is well reproduced by a faint supernova model assuming spherical explosion, except for the excess of Cr and Mn, which requires enhancement of incomplete Si burning or small contributions from a Type Ia or pair-instability supernova. There remains, however, a question as to why the abundance pattern of this star is so unique among VMP stars.

Keywords

• Stellar abundances
• Nucleosynthesis
• Population II stars