According to standard stellar evolution, lithium is destroyed throughout most of the evolution of low- to intermediate-mass stars. However, a number of evolved stars on the red giant branch (RGB) and the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) are known to contain a considerable amount of Li, whose origin is not always understood well. Here we present the latest development on the observational side to obtain a better understanding of Li-rich K giants (RGB), moderately Li-rich low-mass stars on the AGB, as well as very Li-rich intermediate-mass AGB stars possibly undergoing the standard hot bottom burning phase. These last ones probably also enrich the interstellar medium with freshly produced Li.
@article{arxiv.1206.2759,
title = {Lithium destruction and production observed in red giant stars},
author = {Stefan Uttenthaler and Thomas Lebzelter and Maurizio Busso and Sara Palmerini and Bernhard Aringer and Mathias Schultheis},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1206.2759},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
8 pages, 4 figures. Proceedings of the workshop "Lithium in the Cosmos", held at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris in February 27-29, 2012. Eds. F. Iocco, P. Bonifacio, E. Vangioni. To be published in Mem.S.A.It. Suppl., Vol 22