Related papers: Effect of diffusion-induced element accumulation o…
Stellar pulsations in main-sequence B-type stars are driven by the $\kappa$-mechanism due to the Fe-group opacity bump. The current models do not predict the presence of instability strips in the B spectral domain at very low metallicities.…
In the era of large stellar spectroscopic surveys, there is emphasis on deriving not only stellar abundances but also ages for millions of stars. In the context of Galactic archeology, stellar ages provide a direct probe of the formation…
We present a homogeneous photometric and spectroscopic analysis of 18 stars along the evolutionary sequence of the metal-poor globular cluster NGC 6397 ([Fe/H] = -2), from the main-sequence turnoff point to red giants below the bump. The…
Recent accurate abundance analyses of B-type main sequence stars in the solar vicinity has shown that abundances derived from these stellar objects are more homogeneous and metal-rich than previously thought. We investigate whether the…
In early type stars the ultraviolet spectral region is important for several reasons. Firstly, since the majority of the total flux is emitted here, it provides a rather sensitive indicator of a photospheric temperature and luminosity.…
The abundances of the chemical elements observed at the surface of metal-poor stars are not always representative of their initial values. During stellar evolution, various physical processes modify their internal composition. In this short…
Observations suggest that a relationship exists between the driving mechanism of roAp star pulsations and the heavy element distribution in these stars. We attempt to study the effects of local and global metallicity variations on the…
Evolutionary trends in the surface abundances of heavier elements have recently been identified in the globular cluster NGC 6397 ([Fe/H]=-2), indicating the operation of atomic diffusion in these stars. Such trends constitute important…
Massive B type pulsators such as beta Cep and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars pulsate due to layers of increased opacity caused by partial ionization. The increased opacity blocks the energy flux to the surface of the stars which causes the…
A homogeneous spectroscopic analysis of unevolved and evolved stars in the metal-poor globular cluster NGC 6397 with FLAMES-UVES reveals systematic trends of stellar surface abundances that are likely caused by atomic diffusion. This…
The abundance anomalies in chemically peculiar B-F stars are usually explained by diffusion of chemical elements in the stable atmospheres of these stars. But it is well known that Cp stars with similar temperatures and gravities show very…
Until very recently the physical mechanism driving oscillations in $\beta$~Cep and other early type stars has been a mystery. The breakthrough came with the publication of new OPAL and OP opacity data. Model calculations with the new…
Investigating the chemical homogeneity of stars born from the same molecular cloud at virtually the same time is very important for our understanding of the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium and with it the chemical evolution…
We consider the excitation of radial and non-radial oscillations in low-mass B stars by the iron-bump opacity mechanism. The results are significant for the interpretation of pulsations in subdwarf B stars, helium-rich subdwarfs and extreme…
Each time diffusion of elements is invoked in explaining abundance anomalies in a star, this supposes implicitly that a stratification process is in progress somewhere in that star. This means also, that the element abundances can still be…
Context. The modelling of chemical transport mechanisms is crucial for accurate stellar characterizations. Atomic diffusion is one of these processes and it is commonly included in stellar models. However, it is usually neglected for F-type…
We study the convection zones in the outer envelope of hot massive stars which are caused by opacity peaks associated with iron and helium ionization. We determine the occurrence and properties of these convection zones as function of the…
Recent 3-D analysis of the solar spectrum data suggests a significant change of the solar chemical composition. This may affect the temporal evolution of the surface abundance of light elements since the extension of the convective envelope…
The hydrogen-deficiency in extremely hot post-AGB stars of spectral class PG1159 is probably caused by a (very) late helium-shell flash or a AGB final thermal pulse that consumes the hydrogen envelope, exposing the usually-hidden intershell…
We report the abundances of 30 elements in 23 metal-poor ([Fe/H] <-1.7) giants. These are based on 7774 equivalent widths and spectral synthesis of 229 additional lines. Hyperfine splitting is taken into account when appropriate. Our choice…